Podcasts about force that gives us meaning

As more than 100,000 Palestinians have been killed or seriously injured in Israel's ongoing attack on Gaza, we present for this hour journalist and author Chris Hedges speaking on "The Death of Israel: How a Settler Colonial State Destroyed Itself." Hedges argues that if the Gaza slaughter continues, supported by the United States, the UK and Europe, it signals a dangerous new world order.  Plus Headlines. He spoke January 18, 2024 at the The Islamic Society of Central New Jersey.  He was introduced by Omayma Mansour and the Q&A was moderated by Saffet Catovic. Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent for fifteen years for The New York Times, where he served as the Middle East Bureau Chief and Balkan Bureau Chief for the paper. He previously worked overseas for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor, and NPR. He is the host of show The Chris Hedges Report. He was a member of the team that won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for The New York Times coverage of global terrorism, and he received the 2002 Amnesty International Global Award for Human Rights Journalism. Hedges, who holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, is the author of the bestsellers American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle and was a National Book Critics Circle finalist for his book War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. He writes an online column for the website ScheerPost. He has taught at Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University and the University of Toronto. This show was produced for radio and podcast by Esther Iverem. Hedges was recorded by Skalli Events at The Islamic Society of Central New Jersey on January 18, 2024. The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people's voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and support our own media! Please click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on this website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION! You can also give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Thank you!

Best-selling author, foreign correspondent, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges addressed the Middle East crisis with a talk titled "The Genocide in Gaza" on December 6, 2023 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in North Troy NY. Chris Hedges, the former Middle East Bureau Chief for The New York Times, spent seven years covering the conflict between Israel and Palestine. He is the author of numerous books including the New York Times bestsellers War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America and Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, which he co-authored with the cartoonist Joe Sacco. He has taught at Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University and the University of Toronto. He has also taught students in the college degree program offered by Rutgers University in the New Jersey prison system for a decade, the subject of his book Our Class: Trauma and Transformation in an American Prison. This talk was co-sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace, Albany Chapter; Muslim Solidarity Committee and Project SALAM; Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace; Palestinian Rights Committee-Upper Hudson Peace Action; RPI Muslim Student Association; UAlbany Muslim Student Association; Women Against War. The presentation was made possible by volunteer labor and thousands of small donations from patrons of The Sanctuary for Independent Media. The Sanctuary for Independent Media is a telecommunications production facility dedicated to community media arts, located in an historic former church at 3361 6th Avenue in North Troy, NY. The Sanctuary hosts screening, production and performance facilities, training in media production and a meeting space for artists, activists and independent media makers of all kinds. www.mediasanctuary.org

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit wisdomofcrowds.liveAt a time of disruption in the workforce, rapidly shifting gender norms, a dearth of role models and declines in mental health, men are facing a distinct set of challenges that are prompting a renewed understanding of masculinity. For the last few years, viral right-of-center personalities have dominated the conversation offering men guidance that much of mainstream media has viewed as radioactive. But as the challenges men face become more apparent, others are recognizing the issue at hand isn't just a right-wing conspiracy.This week's guest is our very own who recently wrote a brilliant long-form essay in The Washington Post, “Men are lost. Here's a map out of the wilderness”. Christine scrutinizes both the provocative influencers on masculinity as well as mainstream commentators who've denied the problem exists, all while asking what a healthier masculinity looks like that isn't simply femininity. The conversation with and dives into how the decline of religion along with social and economic dislocation have impeded relationship-building. Can a softer masculinity emerge and thrive, or is it simply incompatible in a vigorously competitive world? And what do the world's societies risk by leaving men to the wilderness?In the full episode (for paying subscribers only) the three wade into a conversation around how the aspects of masculinity and religion interplay with fascism as they explore variants represented in religious figures including Jesus, King David and the Prophet Muhammad. They also discuss how periods of wartime have shaped men's sense of purpose.Required Reading:* “Men are lost. Here's a map out of the wilderness,” by Christine Emba (The Washington Post).* “The Ideal Man Exists,” by Christine Emba. (Wisdom of Crowds). * Our epic episode with the pseudonymous writer * Rethinking Sex: A Provocation, by Christine Emba (Amazon).* “What if We're the Bad Guys?” by David Brooks (The New York Times).* Of Boys and Men, by Richard V. Reeves (Amazon).* War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, by Chris Hedges (Amazon).* An interview with author Beverly Gage on her book, G-Man, about J. Edgar Hoover (Reason).Wisdom of Crowds is a platform challenging premises and understanding first principles on politics and culture. Join us!

THE THESIS: Chris Bray is one of the most important voices in America; if more people read him, fewer people would be confused. Today, we discuss how and why journalism is so consistently awful, the impressive (and evil) narrative-casting of organizations that contend to provide news and what happened when a "reporter" wrote a story about the worst place to live in America based solely upon data . . . THE SCRIPTURE & SCRIPTURAL RESOURCES: Remember, we all have some form of gift from God. Spiritual Gifts: Listed by Paul, Motivated by LoveTHE NEWS & COMMENT:Please subscribe to Chris's Substack! Some of Chris Bray's brilliant workLoud Silence; Elvis has left the building?Culture War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning; new target is designatedGrey Gardens NationThe Smollett; when all else fails, punch yourselfWe Need an Amnesty for When I Destroyed You

Chris Hedges is surprisingly cheery for someone who has, by his own admission, “a dark view of human nature.” When we met for this conversation at Substack's office in San Francisco, he was full of smiles and good humor—at least during the times we weren't discussing death and destruction. He had just come from the gym, a habit that borders on a fixation for him, since he works out as a way to deal with the trauma from years of covering war in some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones: the former Yugoslavia, El Salvador, and Iraq, to name a few. It has been 20 years since his groundbreaking book War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning came out. Its force was so powerful that it was quoted at the start of Kathryn Bigelow's 2008 film The Hurt Locker: “The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.” At the time, Chris was a bureau chief for the New York Times, covering the Middle East and the Balkans, but he quit that position following criticism of a speech he gave denouncing the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He has been publishing in independent media ever since, first at Truthdig and later with an interview show, On Contact, on Russia Today (RT). YouTube wiped out the archives to that show when it removed RT from the platform following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. “They're embracing censorship, let's be clear,” Chris says. In this conversation, we talk about why journalists like him keep getting drawn to war despite its dangers, why he sides with the suffering (including in his side role as a Presbyterian minister), and what he thinks is wrong with today's media.Chris recommends this post from Jonathan Cook's newsletter.Show notes* Subscribe to The Chris Hedges Report on Substack* Find Chris Hedges on Twitter (as explained in the episode, not run by him)* War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning* Other writers on Substack Chris recommends: Matt Taibbi, Glenn Greenwald, Paul Street, Jonathan Cook* The Catullus poem Chris quotes* Eunice Wong's website* [02:05] Navigating war zones (and avoiding being killed)* [04:43] Being taken prisoner in Basra* [5:55] The mental stability of a war correspondent* [06:51] How Chris got into war reporting* [08:40] “You don't stay lucky forever”* [09:09] Becoming a recluse* [15:19] Writing a memoir * [21:03] The Presbyterian minister* [22:33] The ordination to journalism* [25:47] The state of today's journalism * [31:33] Why social media sound bites are “world without context”* [33:27] The problem with independent media* [34:06] Mainstream media and WikiLeaks * [36:37] What has happened to our institutions* [37:03] Is there hope? * [40:40] Meeting his wife, Eunice WongThe Active Voice is a podcast hosted by Hamish McKenzie, featuring weekly conversations with writers about how the internet is affecting the way they live and write. It is produced by Hanne Winarsky, with audio engineering by Seven Morris, content production by Hannah Ray, and production support from Bailey Richardson. All artwork is by Joro Chen, and music is by Phelps & Munro. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit read.substack.com

“We were doing all of this for people we did not know and could not imagine. And as is the case, too, like, when you're planting trees, you hope that they're gonna outlive you. And the trees that were planted have outlived some of the people who are deeply involved in that project. Which is, you know…it's both this sorrow and it's a gratitude. We were addressing our needs. And our needs were actually to care for one another, and to join each other, and to love each other and to come to love to love each other, by making this thing for people who we did not know who may or may not be us.” So many of us have found pleasure and solace — and joy — in The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. He's back with a new variation on that riff, Inciting Joy, and he joins us on the show to talk about variations on gardening, the connection between sorrow and joy, cover songs, football and footnotes, community, the pleasures of not doing anything, what's he's been reading and much more with Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.   Featured Books (Episode): Inciting Joy by Ross Gay Catalogue of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay The Bluest Nude by Ama Codjoe Or, On Being the Other Woman by Simone White Under the Sign of Saturn by Susan Sontag Notes on Sontag by Philip Lopate War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): How to Love the World by James Crews Film for Her by Orion Carloto   Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).

For the first segment of this week's show, Mickey talks with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges shares some of the stories from his newest book, The Greatest Evil Is War. The book is based on interviews with dozens of victims of war, including families of soldiers, wounded veterans, and civilian survivors of battle. Hedges lays out the many costs of war, and having seen it up close, calls for its unequivocal end across the world. In the second half-hour, historian Peter Kuznick explains the often untold historical legacy of the recently-deceased former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Kuznick says that Gorbachev not only brought vital reforms to the USSR, but made unprecedented arms-reduction proposals that might have put the world on course to complete nuclear disarmament, had the Reagan Administration not rejected the ideas. Both guests call out the horrors of war and the need for a seriously rejuvenated global movement for peace. Notes: Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist with a long career as a foreign correspondent around the world, including battle zones like Iraq and the Balkans. His books include War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, Death of the Liberal Class, America: The Farewell Tour, and his new work The Greatest Evil Is War. Peter Kuznick is Professor of History at American University in Washington DC, and also directs the Nuclear Studies Program at that institution. He and Oliver Stone co-wrote The Untold History of the United States. Image by Annette Jones from Pixabay

Censorship by proxy continues in the US with the latest wave of Big Tech censorship and deplatforming spurred by increased Russiaphobia that lead to the cancellation RT America. This week, Mickey talks with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Chris Hedges about the matter noting how Roku and DirecTV pulled the channel from subscriber services. In addition, Youtube deleted the entire catalog of RT America, which housed his book review program "On Contact," as well as all other programs there, from Lee Camp's Redacted Tonight to Abby Martin's Breaking the Set, in effort to suppress dissenting views not found in US corporate media. Mickey and Chris discuss issues with RT, but also the problematic media landscape in the US that drives critical journalists out of our so-called "free press.” Later in the program, journalist Kevin Gosztola returns to review the recent developments in the Julian Assange extradition case and offers additional analysis about Big Tech censorship and how “community standards” are used as an excuse to ban content at places like YouTube with no means of appeal or accountability. Notes: Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist with a long career as a foreign correspondent in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. His books include War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, Death of the Liberal Class, and America: The Farewell Tour. Kevin Gosztola is the managing editor at Shadowproof. He has covered the Julian Assange legal proceedings in the UK from the beginning, as well as other press-freedom and whistleblower cases. His interview with Mickey was recorded on March 25.

“War destroys all systems that sustain and nurture life–familial, economic, cultural, political, environmental, and social,” Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges writes. “Once war begins, no one, even those nominally in charge of waging war, can guess what will happen, how the war will develop, how it can drive armies and nations towards suicidal folly.” In this urgent, unscheduled segment of The Marc Steiner Show, Marc talks with Hedges about the path that led to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and about his firsthand experience with the horrific, inhumane reality of war.Chris Hedges is the former Middle East bureau chief of The New York Times, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a columnist at ScheerPost. He formerly hosted the program Days of Revolt, produced by TRNN, and is the author of several books, including America: The Farewell Tour, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, and War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning.Tune in for new episodes of The Marc Steiner Show every Monday and Thursday on TRNN.Pre-Production/Studio/Post-Production: Dwayne GladdenRead the transcript of this podcast: https://therealnews.com/chris-hedges-war-profiteers-are-fueling-this-crisisHelp us continue producing The Marc Steiner Show by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer:Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-pod-mssSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/nl-pod-stGet The Marc Steiner Show updates: https://therealnews.com/up-pod-stLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

“War destroys all systems that sustain and nurture life–familial, economic, cultural, political, environmental, and social,” Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges writes. “Once war begins, no one, even those nominally in charge of waging war, can guess what will happen, how the war will develop, how it can drive armies and nations towards suicidal folly.” In this urgent, unscheduled segment of The Marc Steiner Show, Marc talks with Hedges about the path that led to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and about his firsthand experience with the horrific, inhumane reality of war.Chris Hedges is the former Middle East bureau chief of The New York Times, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a columnist at ScheerPost. He formerly hosted the program Days of Revolt, produced by TRNN, and is the author of several books, including America: The Farewell Tour, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, and War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning.Tune in for new episodes of The Marc Steiner Show every Monday and Thursday on TRNN.Pre-Production/Studio/Post-Production: Dwayne GladdenRead the transcript of this podcast: https://therealnews.com/chris-hedges-war-profiteers-are-fueling-this-crisisHelp us continue producing The Marc Steiner Show by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer:Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-pod-mssSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/nl-pod-stGet The Marc Steiner Show updates: https://therealnews.com/up-pod-stLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

From the social upheaval embodied in Donald Trump's presidency and the 2020 uprisings for racial justice to rampant corporate plunder and increasingly widespread labor unrest, the conditions for an organized mass political movement exist in the US. So, why hasn't that movement come about yet? Is such a movement possible in the US today? If so, what role can the left play in mobilizing it?As world-renowned journalist and activist Chris Hedges argues, “Part of the problem with the left [today] is that it's too engaged in political theater, it's not engaged enough in political organizing, and it often is not literate in the most important element before us, which is class.” In their latest interview for TRNN, co-hosts of THIS IS REVOLUTION Jason Myles and Pascal Robert speak with Hedges about the possibility of mass politics in our present moment, and about the hard work of building working-class solidarity. Chris Hedges is the former Middle East bureau chief of the New York Times, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a columnist at ScheerPost. He formerly hosted the program Days of Revolt, produced by TRNN, and is the author of several books, including America: The Farewell Tour, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, and War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning.Read the transcript of this interview: https://therealnews.com/chris-hedges-mass-politics-must-be-rooted-in-class-strugglePre-Production/Studio: Jason MylesPost-Production: Cameron Granadino Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer: Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-podSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/newsletter-podLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

Program Summary:   Author Chris Hedges also teaches college-level courses for New Jersey state prison inmates. His new book, “Our Class,” explains what happened when Hedges taught a dramatic-literature course to inmates, then helped them write a play of their own – “Caged” – based on their personal life events. As well, the inmates' stories illustrate the many cruelties of life in an American prison.  Chris Hedges spoke at a KPFA / Project Censored Zoom event on November 18; this week's program presents excerpts from that talk.   Notes:   Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist with a long career as a war correspondent around the world. He hosts the program "On Contact" for RT Television, and writes online at www.scheerpost.com. His previous books include "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning," "Death of the Liberal Class," and "America: The Farewell Tour."  

Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and author Chris Hedges also teaches college-level courses through Rutgers University for the New Jersey state prison system. His latest book, “Our Class,” explains what happened when Hedges taught a dramatic-literature course to inmates, then helped them write a play of their own – “Caged” – based on their personal life events (published by Haymarket Books). As well, the inmates' stories illustrate the many cruelties of life in an American prison. Mickey Huff hosted Chris Hedges for this special KPFA/Project Censored Zoom event on November 18; this week's program presents excerpts from that talk. Notes: Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist with a long career as a war correspondent around the world. He hosts the program "On Contact" for RT Television, and writes online. His previous books include War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, Empire of Illusion, Death of the Liberal Class, and America: The Farewell Tour. Photo by cactusbones

This week we present a rebroadcast of a speech delivered one year ago by journalist Chris Hedges. In a Zoom speech shortly after the 2020 election, Hedges spoke about the deeper forces of political and economic decay afflicting the US. This episode contains Hedges' complete speech, titled "The Culture of Despair."   Notes:   Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist with a long career as a foreign correspondent around the world. He hosts the program "On Contact" for RT Television, and writes online at www.scheerpost.com  His books include War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning,  Death of the Liberal Class, and most recently, America: The Farewell Tour.

Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent and bureau chief in the Middle East and the Balkans for fifteen years for The New York Times. He previously worked overseas for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor, and NPR. He is host of the Emmy Award­–nominated RT America show On Contact. Hedges, who holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard University, is the author of numerous books and was a National Book Critics Circle finalist for War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. He has taught at Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University, and the University of Toronto. He has taught college credit courses through Rutgers University since 2013 in the New Jersey prison system. 

In an online speech delivered one week after the election, journalist Chris Hedges spoke about the much deeper forces of political and economic decay afflicting the US. This week's Project Censored Show contains Hedges' complete speech, titled "The Culture of Despair."   Notes:   Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist with a long career as a foreign correspondent around the world. He hosts the program "On Contact" for RT Television, and writes online at www.scheerpost.com  His books include War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, Death of the Liberal Class, and most recently, America: The Farewell Tour.   Music-Break information:    “The Truth Won't Fade Away” by Procol Harum

On today's episode I talk to writer Chris Hedges. Chris is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent for fifteen years for The New York Times, where he served as the Middle East Bureau Chief and Balkan Bureau Chief for the paper. He previously worked overseas for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor, and NPR. In addition, he writes a weekly column for the online magazine Scheerpost and is host of the Emmy Award­–winning RT America show On Contact. Hedges, who holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard University, is the author of the bestsellers American Fascists, Days of Destruction­, Days of Revolt, and was a National Book Critics Circle finalist for War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. He has taught at Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University, and the University of Toronto and currently teaches college credit courses in the New Jersey prison system. (His column that we discuss in this episode can be found here!) This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow me on Twitter.

Chris Hedges is a columnist, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, a New York Times best-selling author, a professor in the college degree program offered to New Jersey state prisoners by Rutgers University, and an ordained Presbyterian minister. He has written 12 books, including “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning” (2003) was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.  His other notable books include: “Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle” (2009), and his latest book is "America: The Farewell Tour" (2018).  He also hosts the show, "On Contact," on RT America. Hedges spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans.  Much of that work was for the New York Times, where he stood up to the corporate media by resigning after receiving a formal reprimand from the newspaper for publicly denouncing the George W. Bush administration’s invasion of Iraq.  Hedges holds a B.A. in English literature from Colgate University and a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University.  Enjoy the show?!  Please leave us a review right here. Contact us direct by email at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Leave us a voicemail at 860-598-0570. Not a contributor on Patreon? You're missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our contributors today! - www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our honorary producers - Will Ahrens, Gage Counts, Fahim Shirazee, Henry Szamota, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Lawrence Taylor, Janet Hanson, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  Without you guys, we couldn't continue our work.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! FOH is hosted, written, and produced by Chris 'Henri' Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music "Fortress on a hill" written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton's Bandcamp page; Clifton's Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Chris Hedges is the author of numerous award-winning and bestselling books including "Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle," "Death of a Liberal Class," "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning," "American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America" and "Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt." His newest book is "America: The Farewell Tour." Hedges explains how Trumpism, white right-wing Christian Evangelicals, white supremacists and other right-wing groups are the types of death cults which come into existence when a society is in decline and crisis. He also highlights how Trump’s impeachment is more evidence of a criminal plutocratic class in America and how the “one percent” are engaged in legal theft against the American people. And Chris Hedges warns that the Democrats’ discussions of a guaranteed minimum income and other “progressive” reforms will in practice only serve the interests of the corporatocracy and not create real systemic change. ****If you learn from and enjoy The Truth Report or my other podcast The Chauncey DeVega Show please show some love by making a donation during the December fundraiser via the Paypal link at ChaunceyDeVega.com or through Patreon. I do not run commercials or advertisements here on The Truth Report because despite having received many offers to do so. Instead The Truth Report relies upon your generosity and kindness which allows the show to continue, stay commercial-free, and grow.**** WHERE CAN YOU FIND ME? On Twitter: https://twitter.com/chaunceydevega On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chauncey.devega My email: chaunceydevega@gmail.com Leave a voicemail for The Truth Report: (262) 864-0154 HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE TRUTH REPORT? Via Paypal at ChaunceyDeVega.com Music at the end of this week's episode of The Truth Report is by JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. You can listen to some of their great music on Spotify.

“Every new technology necessitates a new war.” — Marshall McLuhan We have SPC. Cale Weir back for a AAA Let’s Play of Counter Strike. The gang talks about passé discourse, the myth and intoxication of war, while Ben and Cale get a little drunk and Jon and Cat eat dinner. War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges: https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/29/books/wars-are-made-not-born.html Regarding the Pain of Others by Susan Sontag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FRW5jw19y0 War Play: Video Games and the Future of Armed Conflict by Corey Mead: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/10/playing-war-how-the-military-uses-video-games/280486/ Radical Critique of ‘Papers, Please!’ by Marijam Didžgalvytė: https://medium.com/@marijamdid/radical-critique-of-papers-please-d1e24e57b8d5 War and Peace in the Global Village by Marshall McLuhan & Quentin Fiore: https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/2854056 Find SPC. Cale on his newly minted twitch channel here: twitch.tv/taxxxhaven Or his excellent music here: https://taxhaven.bandcamp.com/ To rent at the Brandscape you can contact us here: http://brandscape.club/contact.html Find us elsewhere: http://spek.work/ https://www.instagram.com/spekwork/ http://twitter.com/spekwork twitch.tv/SpekWork

Chris Hedges is the author of numerous award-winning and bestselling books including "Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle," "Death of a Liberal Class," "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning," "American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America" and "Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt." His newest book is "America: The Farewell Tour." Hedges explains how Trumpism, white right-wing Christian Evangelicals, white supremacists and other right-wing groups are the types of death cults which come into existence when a society is in decline and crisis. He also highlights how Trump's impeachment is more evidence of a criminal plutocratic class in America and how the “one percent” are engaged in legal theft against the American people. And Chris Hedges warns that the Democrats' discussions of a guaranteed minimum income and other “progressive” reforms will in practice only serve the interests of the corporatocracy and not create real systemic change. ****If you learn from and enjoy The Chauncey DeVega Show please show some love by making a donation during the December fundraiser via the Paypal link at ChaunceyDeVega.com or through Patreon. I do not run commercials or advertisements here on The Chauncey DeVega Show despite having received many offers to do so. Instead The Chauncey DeVega Show relies upon your generosity and kindness during its two fundraisers each year. Your generosity and goodness allows the show to continue, stay commercial-free, and grow.**** Chauncey highlights how American fascism is a system comprised of many elements that work through the banality of evil such as how the consulting firm McKinsey is making Trump's concentration camps more “efficient” in their cruelty and evil towards nonwhite migrants and refugees. Another example: William Barr, Trump's head law enforcement goon, is threatening that black and brown communities will no longer have police protection if they dare to protest against police thuggery and other human rights abuses. SELECTED LINKS OF INTEREST FOR THIS EPISODE OF THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW    Beyond conspiracy theory: Trump and the Republicans are waging an all-out war on reality Republicans Now Are More Open to the Idea of Expanding Presidential Power McKinsey designed ICE's gulags, recommending minimal food, medical care and supervision Barr: People Who Disrespect Police Should Lose Protection (Unless It's Trump) Nearly 700,000 SNAP Recipients Could Lose Benefits Under New Trump Rule The Banality of Evil: Hannah Arendt on the Normalization of Human Wickedness and Our Only Effective Antidote to It WHERE CAN YOU FIND ME? On Twitter: https://twitter.com/chaunceydevega On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chauncey.devega My email: chaunceydevega@gmail.com Leave a voicemail for The Chauncey DeVega Show: (262) 864-0154 HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW? Via Paypal at ChaunceyDeVega.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thechaunceydevegashow  Please subscribe to and follow my new podcast The Truth Report https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-report-with-chauncey-devega/id1465522298 http://thetruthreportwithchaunceydevega.libsyn.com/ Music at the end of this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show is by JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. You can listen to some of their great music on Spotify.    

John Shuck speaks with Chris Hedges about his book, "America the Farewell Tour" Chris Hedges wants us to face the reality that our society is unraveling. He speaks with John Shuck about his latest book. In his latest book, America: The Farewell Tour, Chris Hedges shows how the effects of America's decline and decay affects its citizenry. As America sinks further into poverty and despotism, and as corporations and the military-industrial-media complex pirate the remaining assets of a nation that has lost its industry save weapons manufacturing, human beings suffer from gambling addiction, hatred, and violence in the streets. Hedges announces a spiritual call to resist.Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent for fifteen years for The New York Times where he served as the Middle East Bureau Chief and Balkan Bureau Chief for the paper. He previously worked overseas for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor, and NPR. He writes a weekly column for the online magazine Truthdig out of Los Angeles and is host of the Emmy Award­–winning RT America show On Contact. Hedges, who holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard University, is the author of the bestsellers American Fascists, Days of Destruction­, Days of Revolt, and was a National Book Critics Circle finalist for War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. He has taught at Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University, and the University of Toronto. He currently teaches college credit courses in the New Jersey prison system.

All too often our conversations around the consolidation of wealth and power in America blindly fixate on the politics of the Right and Trump as the anti-hero archetype. We must deepen our analyses and rethink our movements beyond the two-party divide in order to truly understand and hold accountable the sociopolitical and economic forces that have brought us to such crisis. This week, we are honored to be speak with journalist and author Chris Hedges who guides us through the history and inner workings of neoliberalism, the rise of corporate capitalism, and our descent into fascism. Chris Hedges is a Truthdig columnist, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, a New York Times best-selling author, a professor in the college degree program offered to New Jersey state prisoners by Rutgers University, and an ordained Presbyterian minister. He has written 12 books, including the New York Times best-seller “Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt” (2012), which he co-authored with the cartoonist Joe Sacco. His book “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning” (2003) was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction and has sold over 400,000 copies. He writes a weekly column for the website Truthdig and hosts a show, “On Contact,” on RT America. Hedges spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. He has reported from more than 50 countries during his work for The Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, The Dallas Morning News and The New York Times, for which he was a foreign correspondent for 15 years. Among other topics, Ayana and Chris discuss wealth inequality, deindustrialization and the rise of the gig economy, the birth of fascism and Christian fundamentalism, and the fusion of corporate and government power under the reigning umbrella of the security state. Candidly reflecting on his own experiences, Chris implores us to rise up in our power and defend our agency through civil disobedience and mass resistance; from within the political ferment and our resounding rejection of these toxic systems, may we articulate the people’s vision of freedom and set a new path forward. Music by Charlie Parr

Chris Hedges returns for a second conversation. He is the author of the new book America: The Farewell Tour. Hedges is also the author of other award winning books including Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle, Death of a Liberal Class, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, and Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt. Hedges explains how the Michael Cohen hearings before Congress are just another symptom of how America's political leaders--both Democrats and Republicans--are corrupt and live in their own reality, why Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar are hated for telling too much truth, and warns about the strangle hold that Christian fascists have over the United States through theor unholy alliance with Donald Trump. And Chris Hedges is also very direct about how Bernie Sanders has a "race problem", one that is fundamentally rooted in the fact that most white liberals actually have no real and meaningful relationships with black people or other nonwhites. On this week's show, Chauncey DeVega reflects on another seven days in this malignant reality which included the Leaving Neverland documentary about the likely sex deviant Michael Jackson, the banality of evil on full display with Trump's henchwoman Kirstjen Nielsen's testimony before Congress about concentration camps for brown and black children, and how Trump is a necromancer who wins the White House again in 2020 because his supporters think he is a tool of God.  Chauncey is also very upset and very sad that TrumpWorld is so disorienting that he forget to buy tickets to Star Wars Celebration in Chicago.   SELECTED LINKS OF INTEREST FOR THIS EPISODE OF THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW  Donald Trump's 2020 re-election strategy: Scaring white people with threats of violence Did God give us another chance with Trump? Leaving Neverland review – astonishing accounts of Michael Jackson's sexual abuse Kirstjen Nielsen Says ‘We Don't Use Cages for Children'—After U.S. Put Migrant Kids in Cages Meet the Group of Right-Wing Christians Who Believe President Trump Was Chosen by God IF YOU ENJOYED THIS WEEK'S SHOW YOU MAY LIKE THESE EPISODES OF THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW AS WELL Ep. 209: Chris Hedges Explains How America is a Diseased Society and Donald Trump is the Symptom Ep. 189: Dr. Mark Goulston on Maintaining Our Emotional Well-being and Fighting Self-Sabotage  Ep. 174: Yascha Mounk on the Rise of Trump and the Decline of Western Democracies Ep. 169: White Supremacy and the So-Called "War on Christmas" Ep. 164: Henry Giroux Evaluates America One Year After Donald Trump WHERE CAN YOU FIND ME? On Twitter: https://twitter.com/chaunceydevega On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chauncey.devega My email: chaunceydevega@gmail.com Leave a voicemail for The Chauncey DeVega Show: (262) 864-0154 HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW? Via Paypal at ChaunceyDeVega.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thechaunceydevegashow  Music at the end of this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show is by JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. You can listen to some of their great music on Spotify.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges is the author of a dozen books, including the bestsellers War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, Empire of Illusion, Wages of Rebellion, and Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt. For nearly two decades he was a New York Times foreign correspondent covering some of the most dangerous and impoverished international and domestic locales, earning wide acclaim for his eloquent and essential stories. Reported from disaffected and disenfranchised communities across the nation, America: The Farewell Tour maps the despair, xenophobia, and inequalities that have accompanied increased corporate influence on our politics. Watch the video here. (recorded 9/27/2018)

Chris Hedges is the author of the new book America: The Farewell Tour. He is also the author of numerous award winning books including Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle, Death of a Liberal Class, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, and Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt. Chris Hedges and Chauncey discuss how America is a deeply sick and pathological society, why Donald Trump is the symptom and not the cause of this disease, and the role of celebrity culture and consumerism in the downfall of American democracy. Chris Hedges and Chauncey also reflect on the need for a more advanced and sophisticated understanding of how race and class relate to one another and the perils of empty symbolic politics such as the so-called "Women's March". Chris Hedges also explains why peoples resistance movements such as Standing Rock and the Ferguson Uprising are the real way forward if American democracy and a humane and free society are to finally be created and salvaged in the country.  During this week's podcast Chauncey asks, "What year is it?" when New Age Jim Crow Enforcers are keeping black folks from voting in Georgia, Jewish-Americans and others are being made into second class citizens by Christian fascists with the support of the Trump regime, and the fascist bigot Donald Trump tells transgender people that their personhood is "illegal" and their identities do not exist under American law.  On this week's show Chauncey also celebrates Jeremiah Harvey, a 9-year-old black child, who refused to forgive a white racist woman who claimed he groped her.  SELECTED LINKS OF INTEREST FOR THIS EPISODE OF THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW  Chris Hedges at Truthdig Chris Hedges discusses America: The Farewell Tour The Wizard of Voter Suppression: Brian Kemp's Long History of Making Black Votes Disappear Black kid wrongly accused of groping white woman: 'I don't forgive this woman, and she needs help' The Trump administration's latest anti-transgender action, explained South Carolina is Lobbying to Allow Discrimination Against Jewish Parents IF YOU ENJOYED THIS WEEK'S SHOW YOU MAY LIKE THESE EPISODES OF THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW AS WELL Ep. 208: Max Boot Explains Why the Republican Party Needs to be Burned to the Ground Ep. 195: Richard Painter on Why He is No Longer a Republican and Trump's Threat to American Democracy Ep. 186: Reza Aslan on How Donald Trump has Turned White Christian Evangelicals Into a Cult  Ep. 184: Ed Ayers Explains Why Americans are Still Fighting About the Civil War Ep. 164: Henry Giroux Evaluates America One Year After Donald Trump WHERE CAN YOU FIND ME? On Twitter: https://twitter.com/chaunceydevega On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chauncey.devega My email: chaunceydevega@gmail.com Leave a voicemail for The Chauncey DeVega Show: (262) 864-0154 HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW? Via Paypal at ChaunceyDeVega.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thechaunceydevegashow 

How do we keep ourselves from losing faith in our country? Pulitzer Prize­-winning reporter Chris Hedges took Town Hall’s stage for a provocative examination of America in crisis—in the form of his book America: The Farewell Tour. America, says Hedges, is convulsed by an array of pathologies that have arisen out of a profound malaise of hopelessness. These have resulted in an epidemic of diseases of despair and a civil society that has ceased to function. Hedges asserted that the opioid crisis, the rise of magical thinking, the celebration of sadism, and a host of other ills are the physical manifestations of a society ravaged by corporate pillage and a failed democracy. Join Hedges for a sobering discussion of the changing landscape of our country—and a poignant cry from communities across America that seeks to jolt us out of complacency while there is still time. Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former foreign correspondent for fifteen years for The New York Times where he served as the Middle East Bureau Chief and Balkan Bureau Chief. He previously worked overseas for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor, and NPR. He writes a weekly column for the online magazine Truthdig out of Los Angeles and is host of the Emmy Award­–winning RT America show “On Contact.” He is the author of the bestsellers American Fascists, Days of Destruction­, Days of Revolt, and was a National Book Critics Circle finalist for War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. Recorded live at Seattle University by Town Hall Seattle on Monday, October 8, 2018. 

Show #215 | Guest: Chris Hedges | Show Summary: Chris Hedges hasn’t given up on America. That may not be the immediate impression from his reporting, nor from his books, where he describes the opioid crisis, the retreat into gambling to cope with economic distress, the pornification of culture, the rise of magical thinking, the celebration of sadism, hate, and plagues of suicides. But grasping the unvarnished reality is essential to fixing everything that’s gone wrong both nationally and worldwide. Hedges’ work, from his contribution to the New York Time’s 2002 Pulitzer Prize to his most recent book America: The Farewell Tour urges us not to compromise as we assess today’s political and societal realities. And he says that neither mainstream political party addresses our systemic problems — nor can they, until our country’s “corporate coup d’état” is reversed. Chris Hedges served as a foreign correspondent for nearly two decades for The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor and National Public Radio. His bestselling books include American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle, and War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. Hedges is a Senior Fellow at The Nation Institute and writes an online column for the web site Truthdig.

Chris Hedges is a cultural critic and author who was a foreign correspondent for nearly two decades for The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor and National Public Radio. Chris reported from Latin American, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. He was a member of the team that won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for The New York Times coverage of global terrorism, and he received the 2002 Amnesty International Global Award for Human Rights Journalism. Hedges, who holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, is the author of the bestsellers American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle and was a National Book Critics Circle finalist for his book War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. He is a Senior Fellow at The Nation Institute and writes an online column for the web site Truthdig. He has taught at Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University and the University of Toronto. =============================== Please Buy Chris Hedges New Book “America: The Farewell Tour” A profound and provocative examination of America in crisis, where unemployment, deindustrialization, and a bitter hopelessness and malaise have resulted in an epidemic of diseases of despair—drug abuse, gambling, suicide, magical thinking, xenophobia, and a culture of sadism and hate. America, says Pulitzer Prize­–winning reporter Chris Hedges, is convulsed by an array of pathologies that have arisen out of profound hopelessness, a bitter despair and a civil society that has ceased to function. The opioid crisis, the retreat into gambling to cope with economic distress, the pornification of culture, the rise of magical thinking, the celebration of sadism, hate, and plagues of suicides are the physical manifestations of a society that is being ravaged by corporate pillage and a failed democracy. As our society unravels, we also face global upheaval caused by catastrophic climate change. All these ills presage a frightening reconfiguration of the nation and the planet. Donald Trump rode this disenchantment to power. In , Hedges argues that neither political party, now captured by corporate power, addresses the systemic problem. Until our corporate coup d'état is reversed these diseases will grow and ravage the country. A poignant cry reported from communities across the country, America: The Farewell Tour seeks to jolt us out of our complacency while there is still time. =============================== Chris Hedges Quotes It is better to be an outcast, a stranger in one's own country, than an outcast from one's self. It is better to see what is about to befall us and to resist than to retreat into the fantasies embraced by a nation of the blind. Battling evil, cruelty, and injustice allows us to retain our identity, a sense of meaning, and ultimately our freedom We are the most illusioned society on the planet. We have to become adults. And it's hard; it's painful. I struggle with despair all the time. But I'm not going to let it win. It is incumbent upon all of us that at the same time we recognize how dark the future is, we also recognize the absolute imperative of resistance in every form possible. I'm not saying we're going to win. I am saying rebellion becomes a way to protect your own dignity. Corporations are, theologically speaking, institutions of death. They commodify everything – the natural world, human beings – that they exploit until exhaustion or collapse. They know no limits. The corporations that profit from permanent war need us to be afraid. Fear stops us from objecting to government spending on a bloated military. Fear means we will not ask unpleasant questions of those in power. Fear permits the government to operate in secret. Fear means we are willing to give up our rights and liberties for promises of security. The imposition of fear ensures that the corporations that wrecked the country cannot be challenged. Fear keeps us penned in like livestock. There are two sets of principles. They are the principles of power and privilege and the principles of truth and justice. If you pursue truth and justice it will always mean a diminution of power and privilege. If you pursue power and privilege, it will always be at the expense of truth and justice. The more we retreat from the culture at large the more room we will have to carve out lives of meaning, the more we will be able to wall off the flood of illusions disseminated by mass culture and the more we will retain sanity in an insane world. I don't fight fascists because I'll win. I fight fascists because they are fascists. The belief that rational and quantifiable disciplines such as science can be used to perfect human society is no less absurd than a belief in magic, angels, and divine intervention. Chris Hedges, America: The Farewell Tour, Pulitzer Prize, Journalist, freedom advocate, civil rights, author, economic collapse, tyranny, democracy, justice, truth, Outer Limits of Inner Truth  

In his new book, America: The Farewell Tour, Chris Hedges provides a provocative examination of America in crisis, where unemployment, deindustrialization, and a bitter hopelessness and malaise have resulted in an epidemic of diseases of despair -- drug abuse, gambling, suicide, magical thinking, xenophobia, and a culture of sadism and hate.According to Hedges, America is convulsed by an array of pathologies that have arisen out of profound hopelessness, a bitter despair and a civil society that has ceased to function. The opioid crisis, the retreat into gambling to cope with economic distress, the pornification of culture, the rise of magical thinking, the celebration of sadism, hate and plagues of suicides are the physical manifestiations of a society that is being ravaged by corporate pillage and a failed democracy. As the society unravels, we also face global upheaval caused by catastrophic climate change.Hedges argues that neither political party, now captured by corporate power, addresses the systemic problem. America: The Farewell Tour seeks to jolt us out of our complacency while there is still time.Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent for 15 years for The New York Times. He previously worked overseas for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor, and NPR. He is the author of American Fascists, Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, and War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. Marc Steiner moderates the conversation with Chris Hedges.Writers LIVE programs are supported in part by The Miss Howard Hubbard Adult Programming Fund.Recorded On: Wednesday, September 5, 2018

In his new book, America: The Farewell Tour, Chris Hedges provides a provocative examination of America in crisis, where unemployment, deindustrialization, and a bitter hopelessness and malaise have resulted in an epidemic of diseases of despair -- drug abuse, gambling, suicide, magical thinking, xenophobia, and a culture of sadism and hate.According to Hedges, America is convulsed by an array of pathologies that have arisen out of profound hopelessness, a bitter despair and a civil society that has ceased to function. The opioid crisis, the retreat into gambling to cope with economic distress, the pornification of culture, the rise of magical thinking, the celebration of sadism, hate and plagues of suicides are the physical manifestiations of a society that is being ravaged by corporate pillage and a failed democracy. As the society unravels, we also face global upheaval caused by catastrophic climate change.Hedges argues that neither political party, now captured by corporate power, addresses the systemic problem. America: The Farewell Tour seeks to jolt us out of our complacency while there is still time.Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent for 15 years for The New York Times. He previously worked overseas for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor, and NPR. He is the author of American Fascists, Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, and War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. Marc Steiner moderates the conversation with Chris Hedges.Writers LIVE programs are supported in part by The Miss Howard Hubbard Adult Programming Fund.

A longtime foreign correspondent, Hedges has reported from more than fifty countries. His latest book is a profound exploration of one of the most troubled: today’s United States. Hedges, author of American Fascists and War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, cites the opioid crisis, the increases in gambling and magical thinking, and the explosion of xenophobia as symptoms of a society that has lost hope. He traces this disillusionment to the twin ills of a de facto corporate coup d’état and a failed democracy. The anger and frustration these have spawned helped bring Trump to power and Hedges issues a passionate call to action to reverse them.https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781501152672Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his latest book, America: The Farewell Tour, Chris Hedges shows how the effects of America's decline and decay affects its citizenry. As America sinks further into poverty and despotism, and as corporations and the military-industrial-media complex pirate the remaining assets of a nation that has lost its industry save weapons manufacturing, human beings suffer from gambling addiction, hatred, and violence in the streets. Hedges announces a spiritual call to resist.Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent for fifteen years for The New York Times where he served as the Middle East Bureau Chief and Balkan Bureau Chief for the paper. He previously worked overseas for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor, and NPR. He writes a weekly column for the online magazine Truthdig out of Los Angeles and is host of the Emmy Award­–winning RT America show On Contact. Hedges, who holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard University, is the author of the bestsellers American Fascists, Days of Destruction­, Days of Revolt, and was a National Book Critics Circle finalist for War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. He has taught at Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University, and the University of Toronto. He currently teaches college credit courses in the New Jersey prison system.

In his latest book, America: The Farewell Tour, Chris Hedges shows how the effects of America’s decline and decay affects its citizenry. As America sinks further into poverty and despotism, and as corporations and the military-industrial-media complex pirate the remaining assets of a nation that has lost its industry save weapons manufacturing, human beings suffer from gambling addiction, hatred, and violence in the streets. Hedges announces a spiritual call to resist. Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent for fifteen years for The New York Times where he served as the Middle East Bureau Chief and Balkan Bureau Chief for the paper. He previously worked overseas for The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor, and NPR. He writes a weekly column for the online magazine Truthdig out of Los Angeles and is host of the Emmy Award­–winning RT America show On Contact. Hedges, who holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard University, is the author of the bestsellers American Fascists, Days of Destruction­, Days of Revolt, and was a National Book Critics Circle finalist for War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. He has taught at Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University, and the University of Toronto. He currently teaches college credit courses in the New Jersey prison system.

John read 100 books in 2017, and narrowed them down to 4 books that you should read. The top 4 are: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, Tribe by Sebastian Junger, War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges, and Doing Good Better by William MacAskill. Topics include: History, fictive language, tribalism, community, alienation, war, meaning, and effective altruism.