This episode begins with Jon and Matt lamenting  the fact that their district is returning to in person learning and proceeds to an equally disheartening discussion about Matt's latest post about the never ending war in Afghanistan. Beers are consumed, indictments of American policy are made, and very few solutions are offered!

Specifically discussed:

-The fact that John and Matt are returning to in person teaching on Monday

- The disappointing status of worker solidarity in the USA

- The absurdity that is the 2 decade old war in Afghanistan 

- The BS notion that Trump is antiwar.. He escalated the war in his early years significantly. He has had 4 years to end the war, yet hasn't had the will/political courage to do so (just as Obama didn't)

- The mythologies that originally justified  and continue the war:

      1) The Taliban and Al Qaeda are one in the same

      2) The Taliban refused to give up Bin Laden 

      3) The Taliban never surrendered 

- Why almost any excuse to stay in Afghanistan does not hold up to scrutiny from  the feigned concern about protecting women to the safe haven myth

Mentioned on the podcast:

Father son "feel good" story in Stars and Stripes

Trump is NOT antiwar

Glenn Greenwald on journalists' misuse of "confirmed" reports

Gareth Porter's breakdown of the actual intelligence of the Russian bounties 

Washington post story showing that the US did have ongoing negotiations with the Taliban and could have worked out a deal if there was sufficient will for diplomacy

The Taliban tried to warn US about 9/11

Veteran Danny Sjursen's dissection of the concern for women that allegedly is a reason to stay in Afghanistan

Our Work:

Matt's Corresponding Post: Mythologies of The American War in Afghanistan 

Read our "In the Context of Empire" blog with corresponding and expanded posts related to this content!

Social Media: Twitter- @Mattylongruns.

This episode centers mostly on the Democratic party. Jon and Matt detail its total inadequacy as an opposition party, its pattern of punching left, and its very warped concept of forgiveness. 

Specifically discussed:

-The presidential and VP debate

-  Biden and Harris attacking immensely popular ideas such as the green new deal and medicare for all while defending fracking

- The terrible selection and framing of questions that were asked vs the incredibly important questions that were left out entirely

- Why Trump's unpaid taxes are not at all surprising given the system that Democrats were instrumental in creating

- Matt's Article about the Democrats seemingly inconsistent and hypocritical practice of forgiveness

- The fact that  Julian Assange and Ralph Nader will never be forgiven by liberals, meanwhile they are more than willing to forgive war criminals from the Bush administration. 

Mentioned on the podcast:

Trump destroys Jeb Bush over Iraq war in 2016 Republican primary debates

Democrats' complicity in wealth disparity

Mehdi Hassan's detail of John Bolton's belligerence 

2014 Princeton Study shows that United is an oligarchy

NY mag article discusses how the issues that are even up for debate are shaped by the wealthy

Left Wing Positions are very popular 

Lawrence O'Donnell explains why the Democratic party will not respond to the left so long as the party can count on their votes

Jon Schwarz's break down of Colin Powell's lying and manipulation of the UN

David Frum shaming Iraqis for not appreciating the amazing offer that the US war had granted them

Our Work:

Matt's Corresponding Post: The Selective Forgiveness of the American Liberal

Read our "In the Context of Empire" blog with corresponding and expanded posts related to this content!

Social Media: Twitter- @Mattylongruns.

This episode continues the discussion of not just the problematic nature  but incredible stupidity  of Trump's proposal for "Patriotic Education." The hosts discuss Jon's newest article at In the Context of Empire, wherein he narrows in on Trump's claim that the "Radical Left" is indoctrinating American students.

Discussed in this Episode:

- Why Trump's belief in a "radical left" education system that indoctrinates children is incorrect from every measurable criterion

- How the conception of "radical" is extremely subjective and often changes

- How Trump plays into a long ugly history of American anti leftism

Our Work: 

Check out Jon's corresponding article: Schooling Trump on “Radical Left” Educators

Read our "In the Context of Empire" blog with corresponding and expanded posts related to this content!

Social Media: Twitter- @Mattylongruns.

Jon and Matt are joined by  Dan, our co-worker, good friend, and fellow educator, to discuss the responsibilities of being a history teacher in the United States.

We discuss:

- Trump's absurdly silly "patriotic education" manifesto

- How many social studies teachers have been derelict at their duties 

- Why there is absolutely no need to give "both sides" or play devil's advocate to all issues 

- How Trump's pathological idea of American exceptionalism is already pervasive in nearly all institutions in society

- The consequences of history teachers reaffirming a curriculum based in American exceptionalism

Mentioned on the podcast: 

Gerald Horne's Counter Revolution of 1776

Noam Chomsky on the "Salt water fallacy," the false idea that American imperialism did not begin until 1898.

Corresponding Post: A Teacher's Declaration of War on Patriotic Education

Read our "In the Context of Empire" blog with corresponding and expanded posts to this content!

Social Media: Twitter- @Mattylongruns. 

In episode 6 we (Jon and Matt) address a hypothetical counter argument. Frequently, those drawing attention to the problems of American society are met with a response that demands that they also have a solution to these societal ills. We start by dismissing idea that it is incumbent upon person pointing out problems to also have a solution to those problems.  However, we do propose some policies that would likely shift our domestic and foreign policies in a far more beneficial direction.

Some issues that we propose solutions for:

The United States and its total disregard for international law and the ICC

Mass Incarceration

Extreme wealth inequality

Unequal access to healthcare

A culture that is disturbingly jingoistic and reverent of militarism while also willingly ignorant or accepting of extreme economic inequality

Mentioned in the podcast:

Listen Liberal and What's the Matter with Kansas by Thomas Frank

We have a corresponding blog at inthecontextofempire.com

Social Media: Twitter- @Mattylongruns

On the eve of the 19th anniversary of September 11th, we do what we do best, provide context. 

We discuss:

Our own experiences on September 11th

Bin Laden's actual grievances against the United States  (spoiler.. he did not hate our freedom) 

The opportunity for reflection and redirection of its foreign policy that America wasted

The War in Afghanistan: Why it did not need to happen in the first place, why the Taliban and Al Qaeda are totally different groups, and why the war is tragically purposeless 

The utter pointlessness  of the chaos, death and destruction that the United States has engaged in since 9/11 and how it has harmed United States and the world .

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Ghost Riders of Baghdad by Danny Sjursen

No Good Men Among the Living by Anand Gopal

Social Media: Twitter- @Mattylongruns

Enjoy!

Continuing on the theme of words and power dynamics from episode 2,  we (Jon and Matt) narrow in on the word "treason." We discuss how it is used officially and colloquially, and point to the limits and contradictions within both characterizations of the word.  Furthermore, we urge caution when associating the Confederacy with treason, as the label groups the irredeemable white supremacists with some truly admirable people in American history. We assert historically, those labeled treasonous to the United States have actually been heroic, while those who committed those gravest betrayals of the American people often escaped judgement.  A new definition that prioritizes  loyalty to the American people and humanity at large over loyalty to the United States is needed.  

Resources mentioned in the podcast: 

Matt's article about Treason

Mehdi Hassan's Discussion of the "moderate rebels" of Syria: 

Alluded to regarding the American counterrevolution: 

John Schwarz on Colin Powell's treason: 

Social Media: Twitter- @Mattylongruns

"How many words does you know"- Ali G to Noam Chomsky

In episode two of "In the Context of Empire " We discuss words! We talk about how words & terms like "freedom," "terrorism," "looting", and "government handouts" are often used in ways that reinforce domestic and international power dynamics. They are weaponized by the powerful to punch down, while exonerating those guilty of much greater transgressions.  Enjoy!

We (Jon and Matt) discuss:

- Jon's misadventures with the local police

- Right wing snowflakes

- A former student's confrontation with a local mayor

- The obvious charlatanism of Trump

-The inadequateness of the Democratic Party's opposition

- The reason that US history teachers have a responsibility to destroy American exceptionalism

FYI  this was recorded outside so there is some cricket noise. If you can get past that, we think you'll enjoy it! Give it a listen!

In the premier episode of "In the Context of Empire," we (Jon and Matt) discuss beer, American exceptionalism, international double standards, the American relationship with freedom and genocide, and many other cheerful topics!

The articles referenced in this podcast can be found at inthecontextofempire.com

The Deceptive Nature of the Red White and Blue: https://inthecontextofempire.com/the-deceptive-nature-of-the-red-white-and-blue/

Extermination Nation: https://inthecontextofempire.com/the-united-states-of-genocide/