Episode Details
Back to EpisodesS 4 E: 11 Hasbara And The Power Of Words
Description
Ericka and I talk about the impact of Hasbara and how it is used to reroute or hijack your empathy. We dissect some of the political language, media framing, and repeatable slogans can make extreme violence sound ordinary, and how Hasbara functions as a public diplomacy strategy that shapes what audiences see as reasonable, tragic, or just “the cost of doing business.” Examples include the “most moral army” claims to the erroneous use of “war” language when the correct word is geocide.
We hope to help educate how to talk to others about U.S. taxpayer funding, the role of nonprofits and PACs, and how Citizens United accelerated a system where influence is purchased and dissent is managed. Then we move into the legal terrain, including HR 4795, and what it could mean for academic freedom, boycott rights, and First Amendment protected speech. If you’ve ever felt like bills are named to hide their real intent, we explain that trick and why it works.
Because this is United States of PTSD, we keep the mental health lens front and center propaganda's has other functions than to misinform, it can erode our humanity, create cognitive dissonance, and deepen moral injury. We end with realistic ways to respond, from sharpening our media literacy to researching where candidates get their money, having better conversations with people who are heavily propagandized, and staying grounded enough to keep caring. If this resonated, subscribe, share the episode with someone who values critical thinking, and leave a review with the phrase you’re most tired of hearing in headlines.
Correction on AZ, CT, and RI These are estimates of how much each state’s residents contribute through their federal taxes—not money taken directly from the state budget.
Correction that it was the singing not screaming forest.
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