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(254)S11E5/5: Propaganda in the Real World: Interview Robert Meeropol

/ 01:29:09/S11:E32
This is an interview with Robert Meeropol, the son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg who were executed for espionage. * I am releasing this episode on the 70th anniversary of their execution, at 8:00 PM EST, the time at which the Julius and Ethel were executed. Pre-Episode Introduction 0:00:00 - Introduction and Robert's story 0:08:40 - Manichean nature of propaganda 0:12:40 - Government destroys culture, not just resistance 0:14:35 - Timing of this episode 0:18:05 - Propaganda in the case of Robert's parents 0:23:35 - Role of fear and othering in propaganda 0:31:45 - Why was it important for propaganda that the kids of the Rosenbergs were targeted as threats? 0:42:45 - Propaganda in the media as a sedative that gets people to work within the system rather than buck it 0:56:10 - How can we know truth in a world saturated by propaganda? 1:04:50 - Why can't the government bring itself to admit they're wrong? 1:16:05 - Why do we need activists today if we solved discrimination with Civil Rights? 1:26:10 - Resource recommendations and plugs
* I am releasing this episode on the 70th anniversary of their execution, at 8:00 PM EST, the time at which the Julius and Ethel were executed.


Pre-Episode Introduction
0:00:00 - Introduction and Robert's story
0:08:40 - Manichean nature of propaganda
0:12:40 - Government destroys culture, not just resistance
0:14:35 - Timing of this episode

Interview with Robert
0:18:05 - Propaganda in the case of Robert's parents
0:23:35 - Role of fear and othering in propaganda
0:31:45 - Why was it important for propaganda that the kids of the Rosenbergs were targeted as threats?
0:42:45 - Propaganda in the media as a sedative that gets people to work within the system rather than buck it
0:56:10 - How can we know truth in a world saturated by propaganda?
1:04:50 - Why can't the government bring itself to admit they're wrong?
1:16:05 - Why do we need activists today if we solved discrimination with Civil Rights?
1:26:10 - Resource recommendations and plugs


  • A huge thanks to Seth White for the awesome music!
  • Thanks to Palmtoptiger17 for the beautiful logo: https://www.instagram.com/palmtoptiger17/
  • Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thewayfourth/?modal=admin_todo_tour
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTd3KlRte86eG9U40ncZ4XA?view_as=subscriber
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theway4th/ 
  • Kingdom Outpost: https://kingdomoutpost.org/
  • My Reading List Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21940220.J_G_Elliot
  • Propaganda Season Outline: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xa4MhYMAg2Ohc5Nvya4g9MHxXWlxo6haT2Nj8Hlws8M/edit?usp=sharing 
  • Episode Outline/Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wXPgp06Xp5Hc-IlB3x81Fwi6ZCCHL4uu2Xs8Wu1rKJs/edit?usp=sharing
  • YouTube version of our interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbzPXxJ2PTo
  • PRE-RELEASE EPISODE 1 INTRODUCTION: https://share.transistor.fm/s/4fec1099
  • PRE-RELEASE EPISODE 2 HOW PROPAGANDA FUNCTIONS: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7f9c0a8c
  • PRE-RELEASE EPISODE 3 THE FALSE PROPHET OF PROPAGANDA: https://share.transistor.fm/s/89025034
  • An Execution in the Family (Robert's Book): https://www.amazon.com/Execution-Family-One-Sons-Journey-ebook/dp/B003J5UJJK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=252RAVF2FZJCL&keywords=an+execution+in+the+family&qid=1650622614&s=digital-text&sprefix=an+execution+in+the+family%2Cdigital-text%2C193&sr=1-1 
  • Executing the Rosenbergs: https://www.amazon.com/Executing-Rosenbergs-Death-Diplomacy-World-ebook/dp/B015P7A066/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1IUJQLH31QLL9&keywords=executing+the+rosenbergs&qid=1650622585&s=digital-text&sprefix=executing+the+rosenberg%2Cdigital-text%2C190&sr=1-1 
  • Rosenberg Fund for Children: https://www.rfc.org/
  • Ellul's "Propaganda": https://www.amazon.com/Propaganda-Formation-Mens-Attitudes/dp/B08YJ3V7F4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GGCP6WP3WUXW&keywords=ellul+propaganda&qid=1650622694&sprefix=ellul+propagand%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-1
  • Chomsky on Propaganda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suFzznCHjko
  • The Radical King (on King and Communism): https://www.amazon.com/The-Radical-King-audiobook/dp/B0799ZNCQQ/ref=sr_1_39?crid=1FHIRH7P45O7X&keywords=martin+luther+king&qid=1650620746&sprefix=martin+luther+kin%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-39
  • "Strange Fruit" sung by Billie Holiday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Web007rzSOI
  • "The Rosenbergs" poem by W.E.B. DuBois: https://minervasperch.wordpress.com/2020/12/11/the-rosenbergs-june-1953-by-w-e-b-du-bois/ 
  • Robert Williams and Radio Free Dixie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Free_Dixie
  • Negroes with Guns by Robert Williams: https://www.amazon.com/Negroes-Guns-Robert-F-Williams/dp/1773230522
  • Slavery into the 1940's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4kI2h3iotA
  • Slavery into Modernity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OXbJHsKB3I
  • Terror Factory: https://www.amazon.com/Terror-Factory-Inside-Manufactured-Terrorism/dp/1632460653/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RHU33LH9VVFD&keywords=terror+factory&qid=1650622428&s=books&sprefix=terror+factory%2Cstripbooks%2C211&sr=1-1
  • Nixon's War at Home: https://www.amazon.com/Nixons-War-Home-Guerrillas-Counterterrorism/dp/B09HVC31CS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DHD4VELWJKKK&keywords=nixon%27s+war+at+home&qid=1650622483&s=books&sprefix=nixon%27s+war+at+ho%2Cstripbooks%2C194&sr=1-1
  • Not a Nation of Immigrants: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Nation-Immigrants-Colonialism-Supremacy-ebook/dp/B08K7QKCCK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1650622505&sr=1-1
  • Yippie Girl: https://www.amazon.com/Yippie-Girl-Exploits-Protest-Defeating-ebook/dp/B09MS4YS68/ref=sr_1_1?crid=276EC2B44V265&keywords=yippie+girl&qid=1650622525&s=digital-text&sprefix=yippie+girl%2Cdigital-text%2C190&sr=1-1


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(254)S11E5/5: Propaganda in the Real World: Interview Robert Meeropol

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