In this explosive episode of the Harvest Series Podcast, host Rose Claverie sits with independent journalist Aaron Maté to examine media complicity in war narratives, from Russiagate to Palestine. Aaron reflects on his personal journey as a journalist exiled from mainstream platforms for refusing to follow the script. The interview took place during Harvest, in Kaplankaya, on May, 2025.

Aaron explained why real courage today means and risking your reputation to uphold truth.

Chapters:

• 0:00 Intro: Aaron Maté and the Cost of Truth
• 1:35 Russiagate: A Cold War Revival
• 4:48 Rachel Maddow and the Myth Machine
• 9:12 Media Complicity in Selling Wars
• 13:27 What the OPCW Leak Reveals
• 18:02 The Weaponization of “Conspiracy Theorist”
• 21:40 Courage in the Face of Smear Campaigns
• 27:10 Palestine: Liberal Hypocrisy and Moral Collapse
• 34:26 Why the Truth Matters—Even If You’re Alone
• 41:00 Final Reflections: Journalism as a Moral Act

You can follow us on Instagram at @HarvestSeries or @rose.claverie for updates.

Watch our podcast episodes and speaker sessions on YouTube: Harvest Series.

Credits:

• Sound editing by: @lesbellesfrequences
• Technician in Kaplankaya: Joel Moriasi
• Music by: Chambord

Harvest Series is produced in partnership with Athena Advisers and Capital Partners

Harvest Series Founders: Burak Öymen and Roman Carel