In this episode of Propaganda Loves You, hosts Arthur, Kodie, and Joe dive deep into the critical role language plays in shaping public perception and policy. They discuss how euphemisms and bureaucratic terms like 'Alligator Alcatraz' mask the harsh realities of state violence and incarceration. The discussion spans historical examples like Japanese internment camps and Soviet gulags, and touches on modern-day issues like ICE detention centers and biometric surveillance. They highlight philosophical perspectives from Ludwig Wittgenstein and Michel Foucault to underscore how language constructs power and control. The episode concludes with a powerful message on the importance of naming violence truthfully as an act of resistance.

00:00 Introduction to Propaganda Loves You

00:57 The Power of Language in Shaping Perception

01:48 Philosophical Foundations: Wittgenstein and Foucault

04:00 Language Games and Social Context

05:41 Euphemisms and Bureaucratic Language

20:23 Historical Parallels and Modern Implications

25:30 Historical Comparisons: Soviet Gulags

26:08 Modern Forced Labor: China's Detention Camps

27:08 ICE and the Language of Detention

28:12 Global Exploitation and Capitalist Interests

29:11 Historical Parallels: Contractors and Exploitation

30:41 The Goal of Detention: Rehabilitation vs. Punishment

31:01 Satirical Advertisement: Call Me Gone

32:07 US Detention Practices Abroad

39:09 Language and Criminalization

40:10 The Economics of Detention

41:54 Philosophical Insights: Language and Humanity

47:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

https://apnews.com/article/florida-alligator-alcatraz-immigration-detention-trump-desantis-0597dd71a0cfcbc819b82929c03466cd

https://apnews.com/article/florida-alligator-alcatraz-immigration-detention-desantis-trump-8856c0e2b9ecb8c0fb960f6e3e72a5ae

https://www.vox.com/politics/419342/trump-ice-deportation-detention-immigration-big-bill

Countering Disinformation: NGOs, Academia, and Personal Strategies

In this episode of 'Propaganda Loves You,' host Kodie, along with Arthur and Joe, dive into the fourth part of their disinformation series. They discuss various organizations that combat disinformation, including the Stanford Internet Observatory and the Alliance for Securing Democracy. The episode highlights the importance of Finland’s societal approach to media literacy, contrasts it with the U.S.'s reduced efforts, and explores NGOs and citizen groups fighting disinformation on both sides of the Atlantic. They conclude with practical tips for individuals to recognize and counter disinformation in their daily media consumption, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and critical engagement.

00:00 Introduction to Propaganda Loves You

00:40 Disinformation Deep Dive Series Recap

01:49 NGOs and Citizen Groups Fighting Disinformation

02:23 Stanford Internet Observatory: A Case Study

04:20 Alliance for Securing Democracy

06:41 American Sunlight Project

10:51 European Digital Media Observatory

24:03 Regional Efforts in Europe

28:47 Open Source Intelligence Organizations

29:58 Investigative Organizations and Their Impact

31:01 Citizen-Led Movements: The Rise of Nafo

35:02 Challenges in Media and Neoliberalism

38:17 Practical Tips to Combat Disinformation

51:14 Additional Resources for Media Literacy

57:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Sources used in this episode

https://euvsdisinfo.eu/learn/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-0833-x

https://www.newsguardtech.com/

https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1806781116

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1075547017731776

https://rm.coe.int/information-disorder-report-version-august-2018/16808c9c77

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debunk.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Monitoring%2C_Analysis_and_Strategy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance4Europe

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/05/07/information-war-russia-china/

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/10/world/europe/finland-misinformation-classes.html

https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/08/31/a-virtual-army-of-impish-cartoon-pooches-is-waging-war-on-russia

https://www.rand.org/research/projects/truth-decay.html

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/16/state-department-shutters-gec-foreign-disinformation-00292982

https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2023/12/07/russia-ukraine-digital-threat-celebrity-cameo-mtac/

https://www.graphika.com/our-story

https://www.disinfo.eu/

https://edmo.eu/

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/government-shouldnt-be-barred-countering-false-information

https://www.bellingcat.com/about/who-we-are/

https://www.americansunlight.org/programs

https://securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/

Undoing the Demos - Wendy Brown

https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9781935408543/undoing-the-demos

Resources for Media Literacy

https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/ml/

https://iste.org/digital-citizenship-lessons

https://www.unesco.org/en/media-information-literacy?hub=370

https://mediaeducationlab.com/

https://internetcitizens.withyoutube.com/#main

https://www.isdglobal.org/about/

In this episode of 'Propaganda Loves You,' host Kodie is joined by Arthur and Joe to discuss the cost of journalistic integrity and governmental control over media. The show, recorded after the 4th of July, features a light-hearted discussion on the holiday celebrations before diving into the main topic of the current administration's attempts to manipulate media. Discussions include the Paramount settlement with Trump, which raises concerns about the First Amendment, and how Trump’s administration leveraged other lawsuit settlements to control press behavior. The episode also delves into the VOA's shift under the Trump administration, potentially transforming it from an independent entity to a direct propaganda tool. The show wraps up with discussions around ongoing political strategies and their implications for democracy.

00:00 Introduction and Hosts

00:39 4th of July Reflections

02:09 Current Events and News Topics

03:43 Howard Zinn's Perspective on the Revolution

06:44 Discussion on Modern Fascism and Media Control

16:35 Trump Administration's Media Manipulation

30:02 Voice of America and Propaganda

41:03 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/voice-of-america-history-60-minutes/

https://www.politico.eu/article/america-pro-democracy-media-closures-donald-trump-radio-free-europe-radio-liberty-voice-of-america-radio-free-asia/

https://apnews.com/article/voice-of-america-trump-administration-kari-lake-15b585b58f5a510374344b50b1a131b5

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/28/voice-of-america-termination-00431342

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/02/paramount-settlement-press-freedom-00437677

https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-harris-minutes-paramount-6415042fe910ae60b432dd8c73ef61b2

https://apnews.com/article/trump-cbs-news-60-minutes-lawsuit-d43effebb7b3b76c31d38908bd31460e

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/06/03/most-people-across-24-surveyed-countries-have-negative-views-of-israel-and-netanyahu/

https://latenighter.com/features/john-oliver-tackles-trumps-war-on-the-press-and-that-hbo-max-rebrand/