Episode 53: Wait... Who is the Extraordinary Threat? Venezuela as a Case Study in US Imperialism & Propaganda with Justin Podur and Joe Emersberger

In the Context of Empire

Justin Podur and Joe Emersberger join Matt to discuss their excellent new book, Extraordinary Threat: The US Empire, the Media, and Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela. Justin is the founder of the Anti Empire Project and Anti Empire project Podcast. He is also the author of America’s Wars on Democracy in Rwanda and the DR Congo and The Path of the Unarmed, He is also an associate professor at York University's Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. Joe is a prolific anti imperialist author, primarily focused on Latin America. His writing can be found at FAIR, Counterpunch, Venezuelanalysis.com,, TeleSUR English and The Canary.

Discussed in this Episode:

- Justin and Joe's interest in Venezuela

- The reality of the "once prosperous Venezuela that existed prior to Chavez. (also covered in Justin and Joe's article in FAIR)

- The accomplishments of Chavismo

- The myth of fraudulent Venezuela elections

- Actually, "whataboutism" is an extremely useful critique of US empire as it engages in projection in 100% of its accusations against other nations

- The manner by which the US attempts to destabilize or overthrow governments, and then cynically feigns outrage when targeted nations take any measures to defend their nations from subversion.

- The racist, classist and violent character of the Venezuelan opposition

- The imperialists' 'cynical weaponization of human rights even when they appear genuinely concerned, IE the New York Times is upset about torture... because it limits the US credibility to bully other nations.

- The shameful role that US progressives (AOC, Bernie Sanders) have played in demonizing Venezuela

- Hopes for the future of Chavismo and the Latin American left more broadly,

Our Work:

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

Find some of Matt's writing at CovertAction Magazine

Social Media: Twitter- @JonTheContrary and @Mattylongruns

Music produced by Zac McKenna