American Exception

Ola Tunander joins us to talk about his recent article on the Nord Stream bombing. He is Research Professor Emeritus with the Peace Research Institute in Oslo. Ola Tunander earned his doctoral degree in 1989 with a thesis on US Maritime Strategy. He has written and edited 15 books on geopolitics, military strategy, European security, submarine warfare, and deception operations (aka psychological o...

We look at JFK’s admirable but doomed attempt to repair US-Egyptian relations and stabilize the Middle East by working with Nasser. This is the 26th installment of our Empire and the Deep State series--an in-depth exploration of my new book American Exception: Empire and the Deep State. Again I am joined by series co-host Ben Norton of Multipolarista as well our own Seamus McGuinness who is produc...

Aaron is joined again by Kit Klarenberg --an investigative journalist exploring the role of intelligence services in shaping politics and perceptions. We speak about two of Kit’s recent articles: At GrayZoneUK: “ ‘Rigorous’ Maidan massacre exposé suppressed by top academic journal ” At MintPress: “ Dare Call It A Coup? CIA Front Threatens Color Revolution in Georgia ” Special thanks to Casey Moore...

Kevin Gosztola joins us to discuss his new book, Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case Against Julian Assange . Kevin is also the co-host (with Rania Khalek) of the Unauthorized Disclosure podcast . Thanks to Dana Chavarria for producing the episode! Music: “ Motel Man ” by Mock Orange

We look at JFK’s admirable but doomed attempt to salvage US-Indonesia relations and avert catastrophe in Sukarno’s Indonesia. This is the 25th installment of our Empire and the Deep State series--an in-depth exploration of my new book American Exception: Empire and the Deep State. Again I am joined by series co-host Ben Norton of Multipolarista as well our own Seamus McGuinness who is producing th...

Gumby returns to talk about the latest developments in the covid origins mystery. Gumby is an independent researcher who often posts on Twitter . Very special thanks to Bijan Sharifi for the artwork! Bijan is an art teacher and freelance artist in Tokyo. Follow Bijan on Instagram ! Thanks to Dana Chavarria for producing the episode! Music: “ Driving Day ” by Mock Orange

Gabriel Rockhill joins us to talk about postmodernism and its usefulness to imperial capitalism. We also touch on the subject of fascism. Rockhill is the Founding Director of the Critical Theory Workshop , Professor of Philosophy at Villanova University, and the author or editor of nine books , as well as numerous scholarly and general public articles, including: “ The CIA Reads French Theory: On...

We talk about oil pipelines and spycraft with Charlotte Dennett , author of Follow the Pipelines: Uncovering the Mystery of a Lost Spy and the Deadly Politics of the Great Game for Oil . Along with Gerard Colby, Dennett is also the coauthor of Thy Will Be Done: The Conquest of the Amazon : Nelson Rockefeller and Evangelism in the Age of Oil —a book we discussed in Episode 107. Special thanks to Da...

This is the second part of our tribute in support of the GoFundMe campaign for Professor Peter Dale Scott after he incurred major unexpected medical and publishing expenses. In this episode, special co-host Ben Howard and I are joined by Oliver Stone and Peter Dale Scott to discuss themes and subjects related to Peter Dale Scott’s life and work. Once again, please do donate to the GoFundMe campaig...

A wonderful cast joins us to support the GoFundMe campaign for Professor Peter Dale Scott after he incurred major unexpected medical and publishing expenses. In this first of two parts, special co-host Ben Howard and I are joined by the following guests at the following timestamps: 7:19—David Talbot 25:20—James Galbraith 48:45—Joshua Oppenheimer, Peter Dale Scott, Daniel Ellsberg, and John Kiriako...

We are joined by Gerard Colby and Charlotte Dennett , the authors of Thy Will Be Done: The Conquest of the Amazon : Nelson Rockefeller and Evangelism in the Age of Oil . Gerard Colby is also the author of Du Pont: Behind the Nylon Curtain . Charlotte is also the author of Follow the Pipelines: Uncovering the Mystery of a Lost Spy and the Deadly Politics of the Great Game for Oil . Special thanks t...

Aaron and Seamus are joined by independent researcher Robert Skvarla to discuss three notorious, interrelated US clandestine operations: Gladio, COINTEL, and CHAOS. Special thanks to Seamus McGuinness for producing the episode! Music: " This Nation " by Mock Orange

We talk with John Kiriakou , the former CIA officer who blew the whistle on the agency’s illegal torture program. John is co-host of the Political Misfits radio show on Sputnik International. He also has a Substack in addition to writing for Consortium News and CovertAction Magazine . Music: " Only in Dreams " by Mock Orange Special thanks to Dana Chavarria for producing the episode!

We talk with Daniele Ganser about his new book, USA: The Ruthless Empire . Ganser is a historian and peace researcher based in Basel, Switzerland. Author of several books in European languages, he is best known in the US as the author of NATO's Secret Armies: Operation GLADIO and Terrorism in Western Europe .  You can follow Daniele Ganser on Twitter , Telegram , and YouTube . Special thanks to Se...

  We talk with Seth Harp about the mysterious crime wave around the US military’s special forces headquarters at Ft. Bragg. Seth Harp is an investigative reporter, foreign correspondent, and magazine writer. He is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, and has also reported from Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and Mexico for publications including Harper’s, The New Yorker, The Intercept, The New York Times...

We speak with James DiEugenio, the screenwriter and co-creator of Oliver Stone’s JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass as well as JFK: Destiny Betrayed —the four-hour cut of the film which is now available for digital purchase. Jim also runs the fantastic Kennedys and King website and is the author of Destiny Betrayed: JFK, Cuba, and the Garrison Case as well as The JFK Assassination: The Evide...

We speak with Monika Wiesak about her excellent new book America’s Last President: What the World Lost When It Lost John F. Kennedy . Special thanks to Dana Chavarria for the sound engineering! Music: " Grow Your Soul Away ” by Mock Orange

We are is joined by Kit Klarenberg and Tom Secker. As GrayZone UK Editor, Kit Klarenberg is an investigative journalist whose work explores the role of intelligence services in shaping politics and  perceptions. Tom Secker is a British-based journalist, author, and podcaster. His specialties include the security services, Hollywood, propaganda, censorship and the history of terrorism. Tom Secker’s...

  We look at the existential issues raised by the Cuban Missile Crisis. This is the 24th installment of our Empire and the Deep State series--an in-depth exploration of my new book American Exception: Empire and the Deep State. Again I am joined by series co-host Ben Norton of Geopolitical Economy as well our own Seamus McGuinness who is producing the series. Note: the audio in the later segment s...

  We are joined by Dr. Piers Robinson , founding editor of Propaganda in Focus . We discuss a number of topics, including his 2022 article, " Cock-up or Conspiracy? Understanding COVID-19 as a ‘Structural Deep Event " and the recent tribute to Lance DeHaven-Smith published at Propaganda in Focus—a piece which Piers asked me to co-write with Professor Matthew Witt. Piers Robinson is also co-directo...

  We look more at JFK’s Cuba policies—specifically Operation Mongoose—and how these policies led to the Cuban Missile Crisis, which we also begin to discuss. This is the 23rd installment of our Empire and the Deep State series--an in-depth exploration of my new book American Exception: Empire and the Deep State. Again I am joined by series co-host Ben Norton of Geopolitical Economy as well our own...

  Sarah Kendzior joins us to talk about her book, They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent . She is also the author of Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America and The View from Flyover Country: Dispatches from the Forgotten America . Sarah is the co-host of the podcast, Gaslit Nation . Special thanks to Dana Chavarria for the sound eng...

  We look at JFK’s conflicting Latin America policies—specifically the Alliance for Progress and his Cuba policies in the wake of the Bay of Pigs fiasco. This is the 22nd installment of our Empire and the Deep State series--an in-depth exploration of my new book American Exception: Empire and the Deep State. Again I am joined by series co-host Ben Norton of Multipolarista as well our own Seamus Mc...

  Jeffrey Kaye joins us to discuss a controversial topic—the alleged US use of biological weapons in the Korean War. A retired psychologist turned blogger and forensic historian, Kaye is the author of Cover-up at Guantanamo and a number of Korean War biowarfare articles on medium which we discuss: Secret History: U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps Flyers’ Confessions on Use of Biological Weapons in the...

  We examine how JFK dealt with Wall Street and the domestic US economy—with a special focus on his showdown with US Steel, aka “The Corporation.” This is the 21st installment of our Empire and the Deep State series--an in-depth exploration of my new book American Exception: Empire and the Deep State. Again I am joined by series co-host Ben Norton of Multipolarista as well our own Seamus McGuinnes...