Polite Conversations

An episode from last year, from my patreon exclusive series, The Aftershow.

Unlocked extended episode for the main feed, as sadly it still remains very relevant.

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Join us for part 2 of this Panel on wtf is going on in Germany. My German guests include Ilyas who is a German Muslim, Claus is a German who was raised with very right-wing views but has since shed them, and we also have John who has a Master’s degree in German Studies and lived there as an exchange student.

We discuss aspects of German identity, history, nationalism and the thinking behind some of the blind and bizarre support we see for Israel, the stifling of pro-Palestinian views - especially in the arts, the treatment of left leaning Jewish people who are critical of Israel, the Herero & Nama genocide, the ICJ, ex-muslims & ‘liberal’ Muslims in Germany becoming tools of the right, & more.

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All guests on the Aftershow are Patrons of the Polite Conversations. Truly amazing to get to chat with fascinating patrons of the show from all around the world.

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Links:

Masha Gessen: Hannah Arendt would not qualify for the Hannah Arendt prize in Germany today https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/18/hannah-arendt-prize-masha-gessen-israel-gaza-essay

Masha Gessen: In the Shadow of the Holocaust https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-weekend-essay/in-the-shadow-of-the-holocaust

Germany Officially Recognizes It Committed Genocide In Present-Day Namibia https://www.npr.org/2021/05/28/1001233776/germany-officially-recognizes-it-committed-genocide-in-present-day-namibia

Germany Is Known for Its Heavily Funded, Thriving Art Scene. But a Slew of Cancellations Is Threatening That Reputation: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/germany-cancellations-2407316

Candice Breitz https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/dec/07/a-frenzy-of-judgement-artist-candice-breitz-on-her-german-show-being-pulled-over-gaza

On Adam Bromberg: Germany is Criminalising Palestinian Solidarity https://tribunemag.co.uk/2023/06/germany-is-criminalising-palestinian-solidarity

German official targets Jewish artist over alleged anti-Semitism for criticising Israel Occupation https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230202-german-official-targets-jewish-artist-over-alleged-anti-semitism-for-criticising-israel-occupation/

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An episode from last year, from my patreon exclusive series, The Aftershow.

Unlocked extended episode for the main feed, as sadly it still remains very relevant. (Pt 2 will also be unlocked soon)

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This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Join myself and my panel of German/Germany related guests for a fascinating discussion about Wtaf is going on in Germany these days. My German guests include Ilyas who is a German Muslim, Claus who is a German that was raised with very right-wing views but has since shed them, and we also have John who has a Master’s degree in German Studies and lived there as an exchange student.

We discuss aspects of German identity, history, nationalism and the thinking behind some of the blind and bizarre support we see for Israel, the stifling of pro-Palestinian views, the perception of Arabs and foreigners in general, the treatment of left leaning Jewish people who are critical of Israel & more.

——

All guests on the Aftershow are Patrons of the Polite Conversations. Truly amazing to get to chat with fascinating patrons of the show from all around the world.

——

Links:

In case u are unfamiliar with trump-voting ‘liberal muslim’ Asra Nomani, here’s a book she wrote https://x.com/ilyasibnkarim/status/1674447440785686530?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

In Berlin, schoolchildren have been banned from wearing the scarf https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/11/keffiyeh-scarf-fashion-history-palestine

How Palestine became a Forbidden word in German Highschools https://www.972mag.com/germany-education-israel-narrative-palestinians/

Karl Lagerfeld calls refugees enemies of Jews https://www.dw.com/en/karl-lagerfeld-evokes-holocaust-to-bash-germanys-angela-merkel-on-refugees/a-41368478

Palestinian rights and the IHRA definition of antisemitism https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/nov/29/palestinian-rights-and-the-ihra-definition-of-antisemitism

Will Politico 's New Owner Allow Criticism of Israel? https://jewishcurrents.org/will-politicos-new-owner-employ-journalists-who-criticize-israel

A clampdown on the arts in Germany https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/07/arts/design/germany-arts-cancellations-israel-palestinians.html

In Germany, a Witch Hunt Is Raging Against Critics of Israel https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2020-12-10/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/in-germany-a-witch-hunt-rages-against-israel-critics-many-have-had-enough/0000017f-db0d-df0f-a17f-df4fa21b0000

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A clip from my recent conversation with Mari Cohen - Associate Editor at leftist magazine Jewish Currents

Here are the articles we discussed in this clip:

Can Genocide Studies survive a Genocide? By Mari Cohen https://jewishcurrents.org/can-genocide-studies-survive-a-genocide-in-gaza

A Textbook Case of Genocide - Raz Segal https://jewishcurrents.org/a-textbook-case-of-genocide

Find the public version of the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mpxDnGm1c8isJlDGgidqc?si=vQXP3xObQtC5iIWB7H334A

And the extended conversation here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-99-can-ft-135158487?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Support the show via patreon.com/nicemangos and unlock extended episodes

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

A clip from my recent conversation with Mari Cohen - Associate Editor at leftist magazine Jewish Currents

Find the public version of the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mpxDnGm1c8isJlDGgidqc?si=vQXP3xObQtC5iIWB7H334A

And the extended conversation here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-99-can-ft-135158487?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Support the show via patreon.com/nicemangos and unlock extended episodes

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

What is there even left to say when some Holocaust *Scholars* decide to support or make excuses for present day genocide, when they legitimize race ‘science’ publications and push narratives justifying collective punishment?

A clip from my recent conversation with Mari Cohen - Associate Editor at leftist magazine Jewish Currents

Find the public version of the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mpxDnGm1c8isJlDGgidqc?si=vQXP3xObQtC5iIWB7H334A

And the extended conversation here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-99-can-ft-135158487?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Support the show via patreon.com/nicemangos and unlock extended episodes

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

[*Pls Subscribe via patreon.com/nicemangos to access the extended version of this episode.* (You can now also purchase individual episodes)]

Finnish expert on far-right extremism Sami Eerola [https://bsky.app/profile/eerolasami.bsky.social] joins me for a conversation about the far-right in Finland. We discuss the sharp swing from Sanna Marin’s progressive govt to the most rightwing government Finland has had since the 1930’s, neo-nazi groups & festivals like ‘white boy summer’, the various racism related scandals coming from far right govt officials and more.

Links:

Find Sami’s Finnish language newsletter here   https://laitaoikeistonviikko.substack.com/

The Finnish government attempts to overcome the overt racism of its minister

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/08/20/the-finnish-government-attempts-to-overcome-the-overt-racism-of-its-ministers_6099989_4.html

Far-right Finnish leader Riikka Purra sorry in racist posts uproar

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66166795

Finland economy minister resigns over Nazi comments

https://www.dw.com/en/finland-economy-minister-resigns-over-nazi-comments/a-66084409

Many Finns Party ministers have pointed to replacement theory

https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/politics/23836-many-finns-party-ministers-have-pointed-to-replacement-theory.html

Chet Hanks says Social Justice Warriors can kick rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgN1Lc5USOI

Tom Hanks’ son shares anti-vaccine videos, claims there’s more evidence for UFOs than for COVID shot safety

https://www.news10.com/news/tom-hanks-son-shares-anti-vaccine-videos-claims-theres-more-evidence-for-ufos-than-for-covid-shot-safety/

White Boy Summer: Investigating the Finnish Far Right https://youtu.be/3CXRZKihkUw?si=3ehv9c99jiEr-EEM

The Palestine Laboratory

pt 1 https://youtu.be/1GvkFwpzDhI?si=ljpWs3vOjiUJQcYy

Pt 2 https://youtu.be/5pPQydBGwQY?si=Mc-9moAZWMOylkU2

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A clip from my recent conversation with Mari Cohen - Associate Editor at leftist magazine Jewish Currents 

Find the public version of the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mpxDnGm1c8isJlDGgidqc?si=vQXP3xObQtC5iIWB7H334A

And the extended conversation here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-99-can-ft-135158487?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Pls subscribe via patreon.com/nicemangos to support the show

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

[Aired originally Jun 11 2025 via patreon.com/nicemangos]

If you’d like to access extended episodes and unlock miniseries early please consider subscribing via patreon.com/nicemangos and supporting this small show!

Dutch Journalist Gillian de Nooijer joins me for a conversation about the Dutch far right. Find Gillian on Bsky: Gilliandn.bsky.social and on twitter: @GillianDN

We discuss Geert Wilders, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Pim Fortuyn (who was assassinated in 2002) and self-described conspiracy theorist Thierry Baudet. We also chat about the controversial blackface character in The Netherlands known as Zwarte Piet, Eurabia & Netherabia conspiracy theories…. Douglas Murray comes up… and so does Israel….

Links

Podcast Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/polite-conversations-podcast-get-new-equipment

Douglas Murray Speech at Pim Fortuyn Memorial Titled: ‘What are we to do about Islam? A speech to the Pim Fortuyn Memorial Conference on Europe and Islam’

https://web.archive.org/web/20080201133647/http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog/archives/000809.php

Ayaan Hirsi Ali Dutch citizenship controversy: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/may/16/nicholaswatt.mainsection

Theo Van Gogh assassinated and Ayaan threatened https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2004/11/29/dutch-politician-plans-sequal-to-gogh-movie

Islamophobia in Europe: How governments are enabling the far-right ‘counter-jihad’ movement

(More info about funders of anti muslim organizations, publications and public figures like Geert Wilders) https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/192414854/Aked_Jones_Miller_Counterjihad_report_2019.pdf

Geert Wilders' questionable American patron https://www.ftm.eu/articles/geert-wilders-american-patron

Vox explainer on Zwarte Piet https://youtube.com/shorts/TDA4HbuEcxM?si=Khja025EQsfpHZ-c

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This is probably one of the most important conversations I’ve had all year, about a difficult but very important subject.

My guest for this episode is Mari Cohen, associate editor at leftist publication, Jewish Currents. We discuss Mari’s important article on the subject of Genocide Studies and the rifts forming within it. We talked about those in the field who remain silent on the livestreamed genocide of Palestinians, about those who make excuses for Israel’s brutality, how rightwing Holocaust scholars have even appeared in notorious race ‘science’ peddling publications like Quillette — and we also discussed the history of the ADL, its increasingly rightward shift and more.

Pls subscribe via patreon.com/nicemangos for the extended episode

Links:

My article on the slight tone-shift in Western media/NYT https://www.patreon.com/posts/134437805

New Patreon post on continued tone shift https://www.patreon.com/posts/tone-shift-are-135263349

Can Genocide Studies survive a Genocide? By Mari Cohen https://jewishcurrents.org/can-genocide-studies-survive-a-genocide-in-gaza

A Textbook Case of Genocide - Raz Segal https://jewishcurrents.org/a-textbook-case-of-genocide

IAG: International Association of Genocide Scholars https://genocidescholars.org/blog/

INOG: Intl Network of Genocide Scholars https://inogs.com

Douglas Murray saying the N*zis felt bad for what they did https://x.com/rivkahbrown/status/1722918657787843012?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Paper by Amos Goldberg that was mentioned in the convo https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14623528.2024.2413175

Yoav Gallant confirms use of Hannibal Directive https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/army-was-ordered-kill-israelis-7-october-defense-minister-confirms

Lipstadt on Trump’s fascism https://x.com/heerjeet/status/1914812234364027047?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Podcast episode ‘The Other ADLs’ https://jewishcurrents.org/the-other-adls

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This is a clip from my recent episode on Israel & the US’s attack on Iran, titled ‘Boners for Bombs’.

Find the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/457mNAy6mz57SDrlQ5ZoWW?si=oqQyPqkNTRmaHGsJhm4RgA

The extended patreon version here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/132450348

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