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Angry Planet

Angry Planet

Matthew Gault

War, Politics, Conflict, Government, History, News

4.3882 Ratings

Overview

Conversations about conflict on an angry planet. Created, produced, and hosted by Matthew Gault and Jason Fields


781951

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege.



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

456 Episodes

The End of U.S. Soft Power

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the interim head of USAID, for however much longer the agency lasts. For 60 years, the massive bureaucracy was a vehicle for American soft power abroad. Trump, Elon Musk, and all their creatures don’t like it. It might soon be gone. Nicole Widdersheim is the deputy Washington director of Human Rights Watch with a long history of humanitarian work. She’s here on Angry Planet today to walk us through this new era of the American Empire. A brief history of USAIDThe size and cost of USAIDCritiquing a bureaucracyPeople like you when you give them stuffDefense, diplomacy, developmentThe real world consequences of the ending of foreign aidA mallet, not a scalpelSupporters need to get cynicalUSAID did a bad job of defending itselfAmericans don’t care about the human costThe Glorious Republic of Jasonvania wants food aidCongressionally approved rice to North KoreaIt turns out the cruelty is, in fact, the pointAt USAID, Waste and Abuse Runs DeepNo one read those reports on AfghanistanHow China’s “Belt and Road” actually worksThe end of USAID will screw over American farmersTrumpism is a lack of consistency  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2025

Lost Episode: ‘Goodbye Globalization: The Return of a Divided World’

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com The pros and cons of globalizationThe end of trust in the global systemWhat was behind the WTO protests of the 1990sHow 1999's WTO Protests Influenced the Policing of Protests TodayChina, China, ChinaThe Covid shockWhite goods?And we have to talk about McDonald’sHow sanctions created the multipolar world“There’s no trust between the U.S., China, and Russia.”Autocrats or historical forces?Martyring Jack MaWhat will happen to pricesHow to make a T-shirtHow much would the iPhone cost if it were made in America?The Houthis attack on the global supply chain“I don’t know why you’re so sad about McDonald’s” Goodbye Globalization: The Return of a DividedSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2025

Pete Hegseth and the Surreal World of the Civ-Mil Divide With Phil Klay

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com Between the idea and the reality falls the shadow. Marine Corps veteran J.D. Vance will soon be vice president. Pete Hegseth, a man with a Crusader Kings tattoo who doesn’t want women to serve in combat roles, is probably going to be confirmed as secretary of defense. Over New Years, two members of the U.S. military committed domestic terror attacks. Today on Angry Planet we get into the highs and lows of the American military with Marine Corps vet and author Phil Klay.  What are the limits of amoral pragmatism?“Most troops are opposed to murder.”A rant about Crusader Kings.Vance’s view.Trump, Hegseth and the Honor of the American MilitaryAsking Pete Hegseth how many pushups he can do during a confirmation hearingThe Cult of ‘Sicario’Anguish and Anger From the Navy SEALs Who Turned In Edward GallagherSen. Ted Cruz insulted a ‘woke, emasculated’ U.S. Army ad. Angry veterans fired back. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 January 2025

‘Putin’s Revenge.’ Lucian Kim on Why Russia Invaded Ukraine

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com It’s hard to read the mind of a dictator, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying. When Russian President invaded Ukraine in February of 2022, there were a million columns, videos and podcasts explaining “the real reason” for such a “crazy” move. Well, anyone who tells the story from February 2022 is missing decades of Russian interference in Ukraine, with low points coming during the Orange Revolution of 2005 and then in 2014. The Euromaidan protests ended with the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. But what made Putin take that next step eight years later? Lucian Kim is a journalist with vast experience in the region, working in Berlin and as NPR’s bureau chief in Moscow. If you can trust anyone to know what brought the world to war, it’s him—hell, he wrote a book on the subject: Putin’s Revenge: Why Russia Invaded Ukraine. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 January 2025

Syria, Authoritarianism, and U.S. Politics

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com This week on Angry Planet writer David Faris joins us to talk about his time in Syria and life in America. David’s travels from Lebanon to SyriaWhen people hoped Bashar al-Assad would change SyriaWhat a real totalitarian state feels likeThe nightmare that follows the collapse of a dictatorshipOnce again, the ugly legacy of colonialism rears its headThe post-Assad playersAfter 15 years, everyone is tired of warTurning to domestic politicsDon’t panic“Trump will govern very corruptly.”Talking politics with childrenThe Trump Cinematic Universe“We need billionaires to fight billionaires.”The collapse of the liberal intelligentsia The McDonald’s bombing in BeirutSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2024

A Crash Course on Indian Assassinations and ISIS in Canada

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com This week Angry Planet turns its attention to Canada. Global News investigative journalist Stewart Bell joins us to walk through his two latest pieces and give Matthew a crash course on Canadian history. What do outlaw motorcycle gangs, extrajudicial assassinations, an Indian separatist movement, and a resurgent Islamic State all have in common? Canada. Bell is here to explain it all. The pros and cons of extremists recruiting on social mediaAre you talking to a fed?Remembering Air India Flight 182 or Matthew learns Canadian historyThe Khalistan movementWhat makes a 14-year-old interested in Islamic State?Eric Hoffer on what makes a True BelieverSpreading ideologies with an answering machineThe budding new era of political violenceVisas as a tool of foreign interferenceUsing gangs to assassinate your political enemiesThe ups and downs of hiring biker gangs for intelligence workIndia’s superpower glow up ISIS arrests are spiking in Canada and youths are driving the resurgence Investigation: Visas have become an Indian foreign interference toolSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

U.S. Defense Contractors Are Using ‘Battle Tested in Ukraine’ As a Marketing Label

On today’s episode, I talked to Kollen Post about how and why Silicon Valley markets their drones as “battle tested in Ukraine.” We recorded it on Thanksgiving, Jason was busy spending time with his family, and Post and I went down some weird philosophical rabbit holes. Impromptu drone developersThe Western image of the Ukrainian drone operatorOpen source is kingThe decentralized nature of Ukrainian societyFundraising for warThe ignorance of the American peopleTrump’s promise: You can forget itAmericans want to be heroesPalmer Luckey is selling drone piece loot cratesiPhone vs. LinuxJamming with GithubOnshoring the drone manufacturing process ‘Battle-tested in Ukraine’ — How US drone makers turned Ukraine into a tagline to sell west Ukraine’s drones have a reputation for low cost. Buntar Aerospace wants to make them boutique How Palantir Is Using AI in Ukraine The Anduril merch storeSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2024

North Korea and Russia—A Very Special Relationship

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com North Korean troops are fighting alongside Russian ones in Ukraine. Bringing the two together hasn’t all gone smoothly. There are language barriers, cultural barriers, and a whole lot of Russian territory to recover. The results have been mixed, but the partnership points to a deepening of the special relationship between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation. On this episode of Angry Planet, Jenny Town is here to explain the deepening ties between Russia and North Korea. Town is a Senior Fellow and Director at the Stimson center and writes at 38 North. Initial reactions to the “ICBM attack” in Ukraine The special relationship between Russia and North Korea The growing anti-western sphere of influence What the North Korean military is doing in Ukraine 100,00 more North Korean troops in Ukraine? Is Kim Jong Un preparing for war? North Korea’s brand new uranium enrichment photos. What would it take for South Korea to get a nuclear weapon? Making use of the Kaesong Industrial Complex Is Kim Jong Un Preparing for War? First Look at North Korea’s Uranium Enrichment Capabilities Kaesong Industrial Complex: A Tortured History and Uncertain Future Quick Take: North Korea’s Coverage of Russian War Against UkraineSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2024

Don't Fall for Donald the Dove

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com The planet isn’t going to get any less angry. This week, Aram Shabanian comes on the show again to help us work through what the next Trump presidency may mean for America, Europe, and the rest of the world. Matthew’s hippie metaphor1931 or 1939?America’s allies know it’s all on them nowNorth Korea in UkraineWho gets a nuke first?Musk diplomacyA 50% chance of nuclear war is too highMinuteman III’s for saleDon’t turn inwardThe future of newsCall of the Hat Man Elon Musk joined Trump's call with Zelenskyy Musk joined a phone call between Trump and a Serbian leader The Donkey Kong painting Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2024

A Calm Conversation About Israeli Settlements and Blame vs Responsibility

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com WARNING: This episode contains nuance in the discussion of subjects usually left to screaming and violence! This week we get into a bunch of stuff around Israel that we normally avoid. Settlements. Blame versus responsibility. The definition of colonialism. The social media posts of IDF soldiers. It’s a calm, nuanced conversation with Shaiel Ben-Ephraim. No, really. Netanyahu as an obstacle to peaceWhy no one talks about what comes nextIsrael loses MatthewAmerica and Israel’s “special relationship”When Bush (senior) stood up to IsraelGoing down the colonialism rabbit holeThe social media output of IDF soldiers on the ground in Gaza and Lebanon“There’s terrible things they’re not taping.”Explaining Ben-Gvir and SmotrichHow right wingers paralyze the Israeli governmentIsrael is eyeing settlements in the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon which is, in fact, colonialismThe difference between blame and responsibilityThe episode is not anti-Israel, so save your letters and phone calls. Shaiel Ben-Ephraim Explains Israel  The History Of The Land Of Israel PodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2024

Stephanie Baker on ‘Punishing Putin’

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com How’s that sanctions regime working out for the U.S. and Russia? This week on the show, we have Stephanie Baker, a senior writer at Bloomberg, to try to answer the question. She just published Punishing Putin, a book all about it. What’s a Russian oligarch like in person?How America’s sanction regime against Russia worksThe nuclear warfare of it allDo Putin’s “red lines” mean anything?The complex nature of the world’s oil economyWhat are the limits of economic power?Where are the semiconductors coming from?What western technology tell us about Russia’s war machinesRTWorshiping World War IIThis is the end of globalizationThe war doesn’t end without the end of PutinWhat to do with Russia’s bank reserves?Hungary? He Had 5 Followers on YouTube. It Landed Him in Jail, Where He Died. Go here to buy Punishing PutinSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2024

King Arthur at the End of the World

Do you ever feel you’re living in a world where all the good stuff happened to the previous generation? Does it seem like America’s best days are behind it? Were you born into an empire just as it began to collapse? Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ We’d like to tell you about King Arthur. The story of Arthur has been told hundreds of times in everything from song to story to movie. That makes it a pretty big deal when someone can tell the story of the ancient British king with freshness and originality. Lev Grossman, author of the well-known The Magicians series, has done just that with The Bright Sword. While the characters may be familiar in large part, Sword will still keep you guessing all the way through. Angry Planet got a chance to speak with Grossman who shared insights into the book, how it was written and Arthur himself. Take a listen. “These stories about a lost golden age are a way of processing grief…grief, not over an apocalypse, but over massive change…I think that’s what stories like King Arthur are about.”We can’t stop talking about Station 11 for some reasonYes, Excalibur is the best Arthur adaptationWhy the fay are importantRadical social change and the apocalypse Buy The Bright Sword here.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2024

Yaakov Katz on Israel's Invasion Of Lebanon

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ Israel is at war-again. Adversaries include Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. But behind all three is one enemy at the center of this web of violence: Iran. Is this war the one where Israel and Iran finally confront each other directly? The missiles launched by the ayatollahs say yes, but what will the Jewish state do in return. This week we look at a fight that could bring a whole world into war, with Yaakov Katz as our guide. He’s a former editor of the Jerusalem Post, and chronicler of modern combat in the Middle East.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 October 2024

Tracer Burnout and Growing Up in the U.S. Military

The American civilian-military divide is stark. Only about 1 percent of the U.S. population has served in the military. We here at Angry Planet like to do what we can to bridge that divide and have found that the easiest way to do that … is just to talk to veterans and service members. That’s why you should listen to the podcast Tracer Burnout, a show where a pair of Army vets talk to other vets about their service. The guys at the center of it are Dan and Roger, two friends who both grew up as Army brats. On this episode of Angry Planet, Dan and Roger stop by the show to tell us about Tracer Burnout and what it was like to grow up on American military bases. The origins of Tracer BurnoutHow Fury inspired a veteran to start a podcastPsychic soldiers in FuryThe difference between the branchesThe changing relationship between the military and the American civilian populationCalifornians in TexasThe life of a military bratFrontier re-enactorsHardtackThe anti-authoritarian streak in veteransWhat happens when the Army makes you to learn a languageLife as a personal trainer in the ArmySubmarinersWhere the name comes from Listen to the Tracer Burnout podcast here https://tracerburnout.com/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 September 2024

Angry Planet's Resident Zionist Reckons With the Brutal Reality of Arab Life in Israel

This week on the show we’re honored to have Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nathan Thrall on the show. His 2023 book, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama cuts to the heart of daily life in and around Jerusalem. In 2012, 5-year old Milad Salama was excited for a school field trip to a theme park. When his school bus hit a semi trailer, it upended the lives of everyone on the bus. What followed was a nightmare of bureaucracy that encapsulates what life is like for people living on the wrong side of the walls Israeli Arabs are forced to live behind.  Masha Gessen and Nathan Thrall on The Whole Story of Israel and Palestine A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem TragedySupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 September 2024

Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Assassinations

Hello and welcome to another conversation about conflict on an Angry Planet. Thanks for letting us kick up our heels this August, it was a rough one. We may not have been releasing, but we WERE recording. The first episode upon our return is with terrorism and vice presidency expert Aaron Mannes. Mannes is lecturer at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and was one of the first people to use big data sets to study terrorist group behavior. These days he’s really into vice presidents. We sat down with him for a wide-ranging conversation that covered everything from Aaron Burr to the Bonus Army. Why are America and Israel all-in on assassination?International relations versus the domestic tensionsStats out of dead bodiesAssassination: Obama StyleThe terrorist’s dilemmaMatthew immediately figures out how wrong he isThe case for Aaron BurrThe Bonus ArmyTaking a shot at the vice president Analyzing Assassination Plots Against VPsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 September 2024

Doomsday Machines With Nuclear Historian Alex Wellserstein

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ Nuclear historian Alex Wellerstein stops by Angry Planet this week to tell us all about his new project Doomsday Machines. It’s a deep dive into the weird post-nuclear futures we’ve built in pop culture. How Warcraft orcs got ICBMsMatthew confuses Camus and SartreFood poisoning as practice for the radical acceptance of death and sufferingIs there any hope in The Road?Alex is hung up on the cannibalsThe video game aesthetics of the post-nuclear worldDebunking gasoline futuresWorking for the authoritarian government to get the petroleum industry back on its feetThe Civil Defense truncheonDeep thoughts on the Fallout franchiseThe American libertarian lone survivor This American Life - Ends of the EarthSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2024

How Silicon Valley Seduced the Pentagon

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ Facing a friendly audience at an AI expo earlier this year, Palantir CEO Alex Karp let loose on a list of controversial topics. He talked about Israel, Gaza, and campus protests. “The peace activists are war activists,” Karp said. “We are the peace activists.” Palantir, Karp’s company, is promising a bold new way to wage war using AI, one it’s testing out in Ukraine. Karp’s comments hit on an old promise. For generations, salesmen have tried to convince everyone they have a new way to conduct war that’s cleaner and better for everyone. That pitch is at the hard of dozens of new defense tech startups. On today’s show we get into the weeds of the Pentagon’s Silicon Valley obsession with Michael Brenes. Brenes is a Yale historian who recently published a Quincy Institute brief about the rise of private finance and disruptors in the DoD contracting space. To hear Brenes tell it, companies have been trying to sell a peaceful way to make war for a hundred years. It never quite turns out how they planned. Private Finance and the Quest to Remake Modern Warfare A.I. Won’t Transform War. It’ll Only Make Venture Capitalists Richer.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 July 2024

On Presidential Assassins and the RNC With Rick Perlstein

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ Ronald Reagan carried a gun in his briefcase when he was president. According to Edmund Morris’ pseudo-historical memoir of Reagan, Dutch, Reagan got the gun in Iowa. “It is a fact … that RR did acquire a 1934 Walther PPK .380 pocket-sized police pistol early in his stay in Des Moines and kept it lovingly the rest of his life,” Morris wrote. “He even toted it in his briefcase as president.” Reagan was obsessed with the idea that he was a target of assassination and had been since his days as the president of the Screen Actors Guild in the 1940s. That’s just one of the bits of ephemera from this episode of Angry Planet where we’re joined by historian Rick Perlstein who is on the ground at the Republican National Convention. On Saturday, a gunman took a shot at former President Donald Trump. He missed, clipping his ear. What can the lives of past assassins, both failed and successful tell us about Thomas Matthew Crooks? What is the duty of the historian at this moment? Is political violence on the rise in America or is this all business as usual? Join us as we ask these questions and attempt to find some answers. You Are Entering the Infernal Triangle Gunman’s Phone Had Details About Both Trump and Biden, F.B.I. Officials Say A Blind Spot and a Lost Trail: How the Gunman Got So Close to Trump ‘Stay Strapped or Get Clapped’Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2024

So What Happens to SEAL Team 6 If They Do Assassinations for the President?

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ On July 1, 2024 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that American presidents have immunity for “official acts” committed while in office. In the dissent opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor raised an interesting hypothetical. “When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majority’s reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune.” It’s the kind of hypothetical situation that people would roll their eyes at during a dinner party. Now it’s on everyone’s minds and in an official Supreme Court ruling. The president can order it, but that doesn’t mean the operators would carry it out. It also doesn’t mean state and local authorities would look the other way. On this episode of Angry Planet, Army lieutenant colonel and judge advocate Dan Maurer comes on the program to take the SEAL Team 6 hypothetical seriously. Maurer is an expert military legal scholar who was willing to answer our questions, no matter how absurd they might be. Want to know what happens if the President hires Pinkertons? Interested in a definition of an “official act” or want an explanation of what the long term consequences of this might be? Looking for a bit of hope that cuts through the hysteria. We can help with that. We also ask a very silly question about Delta Force.Maurer also wrote about the topic in Lawfare. Can the Military Disobey Orders in the SEAL Team 6 Hypothetical? Click here to join the Angry Planet Discord.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 July 2024

The Hard Limits of Cyber War and Subversion Operations

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ Influence campaigns, both subtle and unsubtle, are as old as statecraft. Agencies like the CIA, KGB, and Israel’s Mossad have all attempted to force friends and rivals to change. It doesn’t work as often as you’d think. Subversion campaigns are often so secretive that their effectiveness is hard to quantify. But Lennart Maschmeyer decided to try. Maschmeyer is on this episode of Angry Planet to tell us all about the limits of cyber war and subversion operations. It’s the subject of his new book Subversion: From Covert Operations to Cyber Conflict. Maschmeyer is a senior researcher at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich and his book is a deep look at what works and what doesn’t when countries try to influence each other. It throws cold water on Russia’s much-hyped “Hybrid War” and the idea of cyber Pearl Harbor.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2024

Inside the Congressional Nuclear Bunker

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ We used to build things in America, things like fallout shelters. There’s a luxury hotel on the border between Virginia and West Virginia that’s been a favorite retreat of the D.C. elite for generations. After the fall of the atom bombs in World War II, Washington commissioned an addition to the hotel: a secret fallout shelter that would house Congress in the event of a nuclear war. Matt Farwell of The Hunt for Tom Clancy is here to tell that story and others from the golden age of Atomic America. There was a time when Las Vegas casinos sold tickets to watch nuclear tests. It was an era when the concrete flowed like water and America built bunkers under a hotel and a military base in the heart of a mountain. We might even talk about Nazis and aliens. It’s a wild one. Join us.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 June 2024

TEASER: Getting Away With Murder in Texas

Sign up at angryplanetpod.com to get instant access to the full episode. A direct link to the episode on Substack. Back in 2020, Daniel Perry was driving for Uber to make ends meet. He ran a red light and dove his car into a crowd at a Black Lives Matter protest. Garret Foster was there to protect the crowd and he’d brought an AK-47 along to do it. Foster, an Air Force veteran, approached Perry’s car. Perry, an Army sergeant, pulled out a pistol and killed Foster from the car and drove away. After a trial and a deep dive into Perry’s online history, a jury of his peers found him guilty of murder. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pardoned him.  Why? Perry had become a symbol that transcended justice. Christopher Hooks is here to walk us through the particulars of the case. Hooks is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Atlantic. He’s been writing about the Perry case and its consequences for Texas Monthly. Hooks tells us exactly what happened in 2020, when Perry committed the murder, and walks us through the colorful cast of Texas politicians who may soon take the national stage. Why Did Greg Abbott Pardon a Racist Murderer? Ken Paxton Takes Manhattan What Azerbaijan Wants From Texas Politicians D.A. Seeks to Overturn Texas Governor’s Pardon of Man Who Killed ProtesterSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2024

How to Count Nuclear Weapons

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.com/ No one is really sure how many nuclear weapons are out there. Every number you see is a best guess. Russia and the U.S. have the most, sitting at around 5,000 each. France has just under 200, China has about 500 (and is probably building more), and North Korea has around 50. The world’s nuclear powers love to keep the details of these weapons secret, but not too secret. It’s a complex game of signaling and secrets, one that can be difficult to parse from the outside. Matt Korda of the Federation of American Scientists is here today to walk us through the world’s nuclear powers and the wannabes. Over at the FAS, Korda spends his days looking at high resolution satellite photos of Chinese deserts, pouring over footage of Russian military drills, and reading every line of Pentagon budgets. All that information is mixed together to produce the Nuclear Notebook: a constantly updated inventory of world ending weapons.  The Nuclear Notebook Nuclear Threats Are Looming, And Nobody Knows How Many Nukes Are Out There Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 June 2024

TEASER: Checking In On the Online Nazis With Jason Wilson

Sign up at angryplanetpod.com to get instant access to the full episode. A direct link to the episode on Substack. American politics was bizarre in 2016. Alt-right figures dominated many news cycles and shared pictures of cartoon frogs online. A lot of those personalities, like Baked Alaska and Richard Spencer, flamed out and vanished from the scene. But there’s always money to be made and political power to be gained by playing to people’s base fears and a new brand of online far right weirdo has risen to take their places. On this episode of Angry Planet we check in on the so-called “New Right” with investigative journalist Jason Wilson. Wilson has chronicled far-right movements for years and recently exposed some of their thought leaders in The Guardian. If you want to learn why some people care about the “longhouse” or the importance of online anonymity when spreading weird ideas online, then this is the episode for you.  Revealed: US university lecturer behind far-right Twitter account and publishing house Revealed: the extremist Maga lobbying group driving far-right Republican policies At least 66 members of far-right group in rural Oregon standing for office Revealed: how a US far-right group is influencing anti-gay policies in AfricaSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2024

The FBI’s Chat App and the Biggest Sting Operation In History

International criminal organizations are more concerned about message security than the average citizen. The end-to-end encryption of WhatsApp or Signal is great, but drug traffickers are looking for a little extra. Enter services like Anom, EncroChat, Sky, and Phantom Secure— discrete messaging services that charged big bucks and promised criminals a chat experience free from the prying eyes of law enforcement. But the cops always find a way. And one of those services was actually purpose built by the FBI to act as a spying tool on the world’s criminals. In Dark Wire, investigative journalist Joseph Cox tells the story of how the FBI built and maintained a phone service just for criminals. He’s on Angry Plant today to tell us all about it. Buy DARK WIRE here. You could have heard an early, and commercial free, version of this episode. Sign up for the Angry Planet newsletter to get started.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 June 2024

Ships: America Doesn't Build Them Like It Used To (Or at All)

A lot goes into keeping a navy afloat. There’s ship husbanding, maintenance, and buckets of haze gray. The U.S. used to be good at this, but it hasn’t been on an active war-footing for a long time and the manufacturing base that created its massive navy has seen better days. So what happens if there’s a war and America doesn’t have enough welders, let alone drydocks, to build out its fleets? Gil Barndollar is a senior analyst at Defense Priorities and the co-author of a recent piece in Foreign Policy about America’s inability to build new ships. Barndollar sounds the alarm on a number of different issues facing the U.S. military: the recruitment crisis, manufacturing issues, and sailors pushed to the limits of their physical abilities. We might even talk about arming container ships with missile batteries to augment existing forces. The U.S. Navy Can’t Build Ships Converting Merchant Ships to Missile Ships for the WinSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2024

TEASER: The Case for World War III Breaking Out This Summer

Sign up at angryplanetpod.com to get instant access to the full episode. A direct link to the episode on Substack. The big picture in Europe doesn’t look good. Russia is moving to encircle key cities in Ukraine and is shaking its nuclear saber at the West. Ukraine’s nearest neighbors are, understandably, concerned about Moscow’s aggression and militarizing at an alarming rate. This summer, NATO will conduct Operation Steadfast Defender, a military exercise the Pentagon said is the largest since the Cold War. To Moscow, an enormous military exercise on its border could seem a tad aggressive. Add to this Russia’s recent nuclear rhetoric and missile exercise and the geopolitical situation is looking a bit tense. On this episode of Angry Planet, Aram Shabanian stops by to talk us through the troubling signs he’s seeing about a brewing conflict between Russia and NATO. Shabanian is the Open-Source Information Gathering Manager at the New Lines Institute. We also get into what happens when you mix Coke and Pepsi, how Reagan navigated a similar situation, and when it’s OK for everyone to stop worrying about the bomb. (Never.)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2024

The Horrors Behind Your Frozen Shrimp

Americans love shrimp. They love it so much they don’t think too hard about where it comes from—or the virtual slaves who are farming them. Joshua Farinella doesn’t have that luxury. A few years ago, Farinella took a job working for a shrimp production company in India. The money they were paying would set his family up for a long time to come, but what he saw when he landed in the country made him realize the cash wasn’t worth it. He chose to blow the whistle. On this episode of Angry Planet, Farinella sits down with us to talk about what he saw in the shrimp factory. It all starts one fateful night when he receives a WhatsApp message telling him that one of the plant’s workers was caught in the place’s water treatment facility. “She was searching for a way out of there,” the message said. “Her contractor is not allowing her to go home.” After Farinella decided to blow the whistle, he began to document what he saw at the plant. Video, audio, and documents he secured can be viewed at The Outlaw Ocean Project.  Read The Whistleblower at The Outlaw Ocean Project Read through the documents.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2024

TEASER: Russian Murderers Who Go to War and Come Home to Kill Again

Sign up at angryplanetpod.com to get instant access to the full episode. A direct link to the episode on Substack. In Russia there’s a revolving door between prisons and the frontlines. What began as a Wanger program is now official: the Kremlin will pardon nearly any crime if the convict agrees to serve on the front lines in Ukraine. After a six month stint at war, murderers and rapists are free to return to the scene of the crime. Some come home to kill again. On this episode of Angry Planet, New York Times journalist Milana Mazaeva is here to talk about what happens to Russian communities when criminals return to them after going to war. The first half of the conversation covers the articles and details harrowing stories of Russian murderers who became soldiers who became murderers again.  The latter half of the episode is about how hard it is to report from Russia right now, the incredible games of telephone Mazaeva plays to get the stories she does, and what’s lost when you can’t visit the place you’re reporting on. Pardoned for Serving in Ukraine, They Return to Russia to Kill AgainSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2024

Americans in Ukraine Looking for ‘Daybreak’

Luke Paxton and Han Lee know a good cause when they see one. When Russia invades Ukraine in 2022, the American vets know what they need to do. Their time in Afghanistan has given them the skills to help fight a war and the moral clarity needed to know when a cause is just. But are they going to fight in Ukraine for the right reason? Do Ukrainians want them there? And does either matter when bombs are dropping all over the country?On this episode of Angry Planet, author Matt Gallagher returns to the podcast to talk about his novel Daybreak. It’s the story of Paxton and Lee as they travel to Ukraine to fight. It’s a work of fiction that strikes at deeper emotional truths about the conflict. It’s also pieced together from Gallagher’s own experiences in Ukraine, some of which wouldn’t fit neatly into a work of journalistic non-fiction. What fiction can do that non-fiction can’t.Exploring Lviv’s mystical toy barter alley.The contractually required Joan Didion quote.Why Ukrainians are suspicious of Americans who say “I want to help.”The structure of a Daybreak movie.Recorded 4/23/24 Go here to buy Daybreak. Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2024

An Insider's Critique of Israel

The war between Israel and Hamas, which began on Oct. 7 when terrorists overran the Gaza frontier and killed more than 1,200 Israelis, is now more than six months old. More than 100 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza. Israel, in return, has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, with two thirds of that number likely to be civilians, including women and children. There are negotiations for a ceasefire going on—at least sporadically—but Dan Perry, former Associated Press bureau chief in the region, says that Hamas isn't playing by the same rules as Israel, or anyone else. Hamas, according to Perry, welcomes the deaths of Palestinian civilians. Anyone and everyone can be a martyr for Hamas's cause, which is not peace, but a complete destruction of Israel. Whoever must be sacrificed in the process, well, other people's live are a price Hamas is willing to pay. Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2024

TEASER: Crawl Out Through the ‘Fallout’

Sign up at angryplanetpod.com to get instant access to the full episode. A direct link to the episode on Substack. A successful TV adaptation of the Fallout video game franchise has everyone excited about the post-apocalypse again so we thought it was a good time to finally do a bonus episode we’ve been threatening for a long time. Cultural critic, journalist, and YouTuber Noah Caldwell-Gervais comes on this episode of Angry Planet to discuss all things Fallout. It’s a long episode, we dive into a lot of topics including Jason’s globe from 1937The peculiar pleasure of vacuum tube technologyCold War memoriesThe anxiety of worrying about dying in a nuclear blastWest Coast vs East Coast Fallout In defense of Fallout 76Power armor and Soviet TanksVault-Tec the ultimate villain Full spoiler warning for all of the Fallout video games and the entire TV show.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2024

What Happens to the World When China and the U.S. ‘Face Off’?

Go here to listen to Face-Off Jane Perlez is a veteran foreign correspondent, the former Bejing Bureau Chief for The New York Times, and host of the new podcast “Face-Off.” She’s on Angry Planet today to talk to us about the show and her experiences reporting on China. “Face-Off” is all about America’s complicated relationship with China. Perlez says she started the show because she was tired of the hysterical conversations she hears about Beijing in Washington.In this episode we learn … Why On the Beach is Perlez’s favorite nuclear war movie. What it’s like to visit China for the first time at the height of the Cultural Revolution. What “Communism” means in a country with a growing bourgeoisie. What it takes for someone to lead China. When Mao and Khrushchev Went SwimmingSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 April 2024

The Origins of Haiti’s Gangs and What Comes Next

Violence thrives in countries where political solutions to conflict have failed. On this episode of Angry Planet, Jeffsky Poincy comes on the show to walk us through the origins of Haiti’s gang problems and lay out the complicated history that gave rise to them. Poincy, who is Haitian, is a program manager at PartnersGlobal, an NGO that helps foster democratic conflict resolution. Poincy’s perspective on the violence in Haiti is that it will require complicated and lengthy political solutions. The gangs thrive, he says, because of their place in a complicated transnational criminal network. It’s a local problem that requires local solutions. A thousand Kenyan soldiers on the ground in the devastated country won’t provide long term relief. Real political change will. Recorded 4/5/24 Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2024

TEASER: Haiti. Life in Empire's Shadow

Sign up at angryplanetpod.com to get instant access to the full episode. Recorded 4/4/24 The U.S. State Department has been working hard to get Americans out of Haiti. The island nation’s government is in shambles and gangs run much of the urban center of Port-au-Prince. Haitians have struggled for hundreds of years at the hands of gangs, brutal authoritarian dictators, and colonial rule. One of its biggest problems has always been its nearest Imperial neighbor: America. On this episode of Angry Planet, we get America’s side of the story. Keith Mines is the Vice President for Latin America at U.S. Institute of Peace. If you’ve never heard of the USIP, you aren’t alone. As Mines says in the show, it is bad at branding. Part of a Congressional initiative from 1984, the USIP was founded to pursue peaceful resolutions to worldwide conflict. Mines has a storied career of government service. He’s worked for the State Department and been all across the world. His unique point of view gives listeners a window into the mind of a member of the U.S. political establishment. Mines has a deep knowledge of Haiti and a deeper understanding of how badly America has screwed up its efforts to help.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2024

TEASER: The Shockingly Sophisticated Arsenal of the Houthis

Yemen has become a battlefield of technological firsts. The Houthis have turned the Red Sea into a proving ground for Iranian weapons, and Tehran is learning what works and what doesn’t. It’s become a place where the Khamenei and his crew can test new technologies and new strategies. It’s a win for Iran and a win for the Houthis in the short-term, but missiles on their own don’t win wars. On this bonus episode of Angry Planet, Fabian Hinz of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London comes on to tell us about the technological capabilities of the Houthis. Recorded on 3/21/24 A quick and dirty history of the Houthi movementIts mysterious founderJason learns about lasersMatthew learns about Manhattan allergiesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 March 2024

How Palantir Is Using AI in Ukraine

Defense contractors and governments can run a thousand simulations, but the data they get will never be as good as what’s generated on a battlefield. When Russia invaded Ukraine, tech companies saw an opportunity. A land war in Europe presented a unique chance to test cutting-edge technologies. That’s why, a few months after the 2022 invasion, Palantir CEO Alex Karp drove into the capital to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.  TIME Senior Correspondent Vera Bergengruen is here on Angry Planet to tell the story. She traveled to Ukraine herself to see how tech companies have turned the country into a test bed for AI and other advanced technologies. As the war grinds on, Kyiv is singing the praises of the companies that help keep it safe. But wars aren’t forever and what becomes of some of the more invasive technology like facial recognition when the fighting stops? How Tech Giants Turned Ukraine Into an AI War Lab A Palantir-published tech demoSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2024

TEASER: War Literature as Culture War Fodder

Sign up at angryplanetpod.com to get instant access to the full episode. Writing, even fiction writing, about war provides a clear-eyed and honest view of conflict that the best movies and television shows can’t replicate. Civilians and soldiers on all sides of conflicts have always turned to poetry and prose to express feelings that are hard to articulate any other way.  On March 10, the literary magazine Guernica published a personal essay from British-Israeli writer Joannna Chen about the Israel-Hamas War. After a backlash to the essay that came from both inside and out, Guernica pulled the piece. “Guernica regrets having published this piece and has retracted it. A more fulsome explanation will follow,” the literary magazine published in place of the essay. As of this writing, that more fulsome explanation has not arrived. On this bonus episode of Angry Planet, author, journalist, and veteran Matt Galagher comes on to the show to walk us through the Guernica dustup and the importance of war writing. He talks to us about his recent trips to Ukraine, his relationship with the literary world, and his new novel: Daybreak. In Daybreak, Gallagher tells the story of American veterans who travel to Ukraine looking to fight a war that isn’t their own. Recorded on 3/14/24 “From the Edges of a Broken World,” republished by Washington Monthly.  “Looking Back on the Spanish Civil War” by George Orwell Buy Daybreak here.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2024

Nuclear War and Imagining the Unimaginable

The U.S. is spending $2 trillion to overhaul its nuclear weapons. China is building ICBM silos in the desert. Russia has spent the last ten years talking about its fancy new nukes. After decades of drawdown, the world’s great powers are reversing course and rebuilding their nuclear arsenals. We have forgotten the power and terror of these weapons. W.J. Hennigan of The New York Times wants the world to remember.  On this episode of Angry Planet, Hennigan discusses the Time’s new series: At the Brink. He’s spent the last year interviewing experts about the threat of nuclear war. His reporting asks its reader to imagine the unimaginable. Nuclear War Is Called Unimaginable. In Fact, It’s Not Imagined Enough. How America Made Nuclear War the President's DecisionSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2024

What Would an End Game Look Like in Gaza?

It's easy to say the words "two-state solution" between Israel and the Palestinians, but as Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations explains, there are plenty of reasons why there hasn't been one so far. We also take another look at "moral" war in a tight space. What's the difference between collateral damage and a war crime? And has world opinion turned permanently against Israel?  We also talk to Steven about his upcoming book, The End of Ambition: American's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East. Recorded 3/8/24. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribeSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2024

America’s Fight in the Red Sea

Since the middle of December, a U.S.-led coalition has been trading munitions with Houthis in Yemen. The day after Christmas, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower began participating in strikes against targets along the coast. It hasn’t left since and the conflict between a group of international allies and the Houthis has continued. On this episode of Angry Planet, former fighter pilot and current YouTuber Ward Carroll sits down to walk us through the ins and outs of Operation Prosperity Guardian. The conversation was recorded on February 20, 2023, and as Carroll predicted, the conflict remained remarkably static in the weeks that followed. That changed on March 5, when a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile struck the M/V True Confidence, killing three.  Did the Houthis Cut Internet Cables in the Red Sea? The fighter pilots hunting Houthi drones over the Red Sea Ward’s initial thoughts on the "ace" Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribeSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2024

It’s Time to Retire the Term ‘Proxy War’

One of the persistent themes of Angry Planet has been that smaller countries in the spheres of influence of great powers have far greater control over their destinies than it would appear. If the recent fighting in the Middle East has taught us anything, it’s that local partners have plans of their own and it’s impossible for a patron to have complete control over what happens on the ground. On this episode of Angry Planet, Barbara Elias of Bowdoin College comes on to make the case for retiring the term ‘proxy war.’ It’s a wide ranging conversation that covers Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Vietnam. Tune in for a worthwhile discussion of geopolitical semantics and stick around for a wild story of million dollar goats in Afghanistan.  Afghanistan’s Failed Goat Farm Is the Perfect American Disaster Local Partners Are Not Proxies: The Case for Rethinking Proxy War Why Allies Rebel: Defiant Local Partners in Counterinsurgency Wars Subscribe to CYBER on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 February 2024

Can You Fight a Moral War in a Tight Space?

Retired Colonel John Spencer, who is a combat veteran who now teaches at West Point, joins Matthew and Jason for a second time. This time we're not talking about how to carry out urban warfare, but we're looking at how you fight morally under impossible circumstances. John recently wrote a piece for Newsweek (Jason's day job), making the controversial case that the Israelis are doing more than any other modern military to limit civilian casualties. You can see if he's persuasive for yourself. Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribeSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 February 2024

Ore Is the New Oil

Oil makes the world go ‘round, for now. But rare earth minerals such as lithium are increasingly in demand and, as a result, the source of conflict. With us on the show today is Reuters journalist Ernest Scheyder. His new book The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives explores the new resource war that’s sucking in community activists, titans of industry, and global superpowers. Scheyder’s work at Reuters The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives We took questions from subscribers this week for the show. If you want in on the discussions and memes, and want to get an idea of what’s coming up click the link below. Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribe Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2024

How Ukraine Wins

Joining your faithful Angry Planet crew this week are Rose Gottemoeller and Michael Ryan, both national security experts and both with a strong view that the war in Ukraine can still be won. And they'll even tell you how, if you listen to this week's show. You can read more of their thoughts in Foreign Policy: Ukraine Has a Pathway to Victory Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribeSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 January 2024

One Year Reporting in Russia

Vice News reporter Any Hayward spent the better part of the last year in Russia reporting on the domestic situation there. His work has appeared in various segments on Vice’s website, but he’s got a new documentary coming out on the anniversary of fullscale invasion called Warped by War. Hayward is here to walk us through what he saw, who he talked to, and the unique dangers of reporting in Putin’s Russia as a foreign journalist.The Vice YouTube channel is here. Warped by War will be available there on February 24. Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribeSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2024

A Throw of the Dice: Games the Pentagon Plays

Welcome to the new year at Angry Planet. For the last 100 years, American defense policy has been aided by elaborate war games. SIGMA, the Cold War Game, and the Millenium Challenge are just some of the most famous. Sometimes these games are played with dice and boards, other times they’re purely electronic. Why do we do this, when did we start, and what does it all mean? More importantly, how do we make sure the board games don’t play us? Here to answer those questions is Director of the Hoover Wargaming and Crisis Simulation Initiative, Jacquelyn Schneider. What War Games Really Reveal One episode of The Crisis Game on YouTube Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribeSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2024

What, Exactly, Is the Military Industrial Complex?

When President Dwight David Eisenhower left the stage as president of the United States in 1961, he warned of the military-industrial complex he was leaving behind. Sounds ominous, right? And that complex has had 60 years to harden in place since Eisenhower’s farewell address. But what is the military-industrial complex? Is it a war-mongering machine out to kill us all at a profit? Is it a bunch of old boys networking to sell $700 hammers to the Pentagon through no-bid deals? Was Eisenhower overstating a problem that only he could see? We spoke with Emma Salisbury, who just finished a Ph.D. thesis on the subject. As with virtually everything on Angry Planet, the truth was more complicated than you might think. Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribe Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribeSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2023

The Movie That Scared Ronald Reagan Into Nuclear Détente

Forty years ago, a made for TV movie aired on ABC that changed the world. It was called The Day After, and it depicted life in Kansas and Missouri after a nuclear exchange with the Soviet Union. More than 100 million people watched it when it aired. One of them was president Ronald Reagan. “I ran the tape of the movie ABC is running on the air Nov. 20. It’s called “The Day After.” It has Lawrence Kansas wiped out in a nuclear war with Russia. It is powerfully done—all $7 mil. worth. It’s very effective & left me greatly depressed,” he wrote in his diary after watching an early screening in 1983. “So far they haven’t sold any of the 25 spot ads scheduled & I can see why. Whether it will be of help to the ‘anti nukes’ or not, I cant say. My own reaction was one of our having to do all we can to have a deterrent & to see there is never a nuclear war.” This week on Angry Planet, we talk with David Craig about his new book Apocalypse Television: How the Day After Helped End the Cold War. More than just a “making-of” story, Craig’s book is a reminder of the transcendent power of art to change the world. Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribe Angry Planet has a Substack! Join to get weekly insights into our angry planet and hear more conversations about a world in conflict. https://angryplanet.substack.com/subscribeSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2023

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