Image: Charles C.J. Hoffbauer

Anyone born before last week can see US news media lying about history as it’s happening. But fast forward to 10, 20 years from now, and those media stories will have hardened into narrative, into the unspoken “given” presented as context for the latest thing.

That’s the power of history as told. A power well understood by James Loewen, the historian and author who died August 19 at the age of 79. Some US media are now lauding Jim Loewen, but without ceasing to generate the very sort of misty misinformation he fought against.

CounterSpin spoke with James Loewen in July 2015. We listen again to that conversation this week.

Transcript: ‘That’s the Biggest Lie, That We Started Out Great and We’ve Been Getting Better Ever Since’

Plus Janine Jackson takes a quick look at coverage of climate “terrorism” and “generous” unemployment benefits.