Episode 25: Breaking Down the Methods of the World's Leader in Foreign Interference with Stephen Kinzer

In the Context of Empire

Jon and Matt were joined by Stephen Kinzer to speak about the United States' near constant interference in other countries. Stephen is a former New York times Foreign correspondent, a current columnist for the Boston Globe and a Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs at the Watson Institute . He is also the author of many books including: Overthrow, Bitter Fruit, The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War, The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire and most recently Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control.

Specifically Discussed:

- Stephen's background as a foreign correspondent for the New York Times and how it catalyzed him to start writing about the history of US imperialism

- The United States is the world's leader in foreign interference (and no one is even close)

- What Americans do not seem to understand about Russia

- The methods by which the United States interferes in foreign governments

- The role of disinformation in both the targeted nations and the American public

- How alleged human rights abuses of targeted nations are weaponized by the US to push imperial actions and do exponentially more harm than the original allegations

The American exceptionalism mindset: "We are the first nation in the world that has managed to marry virtue and power”

- Could American foreign policy ever create positive outcomes?

- Stephen's prognostications for interference that the United States is currently undertaking

- Stephen's prognostications for a Biden administration

Stephen's Work: Please support him!

Check out his books including: Overthrow, Bitter Fruit, The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War, The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire and most recently Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control.

All of Stephens latest work can be found at his website

Our Work:

Read our "In the Context of Empire" blog with corresponding and expanded posts to this content!

Social Media: Twitter- @Mattylongruns.