The purpose of this article is to share podcasts I follow for news about Gaza and Palestine. But first, a few comments about news, media, facts and narrative, ideology, and what makes a source “alternative.”
I’ve been writing about political issues since the year 2000 but have never mentioned Palestine, in large part because the subject seemed “complicated.” But current events show that it’s not complicated, not for me anyway. To me, what’s going on there is a total horror show, full stop.
At the same time, I understand why other people do not share that assessment. By “I understand” I don’t mean that I comprehend their arguments and have respect for them as a a simple difference of opinion—I don’t—but that I know why they have other ideas.
It’s simple. In this digital age, our beliefs about events and issues are primarily products of the digital media that we consume. We are conditioned by media, whether we want to admit it or not, so it’s important to choose our media wisely. (With a perfectly valid option being no media.) This includes not only news media but also entertainment media, which arguably plays a larger role in shaping our worldviews and cultural norms, but for this essay I’m focusing on news media.
What do I mean by “conditioned”? That the primary outcome of news media programming is not the reporting of facts, but the manufacturing of narratives. Yes, facts are reported, but as many or more are omitted, and misinformation (misleading by mistake) or disinformation (misleading by design) are also in the mix. Together, these elements tell a story, above and beyond the facts. Facts are the who, what, when, where and why of an event (sometimes called the “5 Ws”) but the story or narrative provides the meaning. We absorb that meaning, and interpret additional reporting through its lens. Over time, seeing things without that lens becomes challenging, and requires an intentional effort. Of course, if you’re unaware that the lens exists, then you won’t make another choice, because you don’t know other options exist. One of the insidious effects of narrative manufacturing is the impression it imparts that you’re merely seeing things how they are—“just the facts” or “the truth”—though this is usually far from the case with US corporate media.
I carefully chose the word “outcome” (as in, “the primary outcome of news media programming”) and not “job” or “purpose” or “function” because I want to stress that the result of news media coverage is the manufacturing of narrative regardless of whether that process is being purposefully directed. There’s a whole discussion about the degree to which corporate news coverage is guided in a top-down fashion, and how much of it is self-censorship, unconscious bias or simply ignorance on behalf of corporate journalists. For an excellent run-down of these issues and more, see “15 Reasons Why Media Don’t Do Journalism.”
That being said, Noam Chomsky famously wrote: “The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum.” Certainly, powerful interests are constantly vying to do just that. When multiple news networks simultaneously start using the same catchphrases or adjectives in relation to a particular event or issue, you are seeing this in action.
Personally, I tend to view all of this is systemic. While particular individuals, groups or classes play large roles, The System itself functions regardless of the personalities at the helm, both those up front and those behind the scenes. Though I know that people, organizations and nations definitely “conspire” (as in, make plans together surreptitiously) my perspective is not “conspiratorial” per se. I believe that if the Rockefeller family or Bill Gates or George Soros or whoever disappeared from the face of the earth tomorrow, nothing would change. (This concept is brilliantly expressed in this 1:38 long scene in Oliver Stone’s Nixon.)
Narrative is why people are able to draw contradictory conclusions when exposed to the same facts. So, seeing that over 21,000 people have so far been killed in Gaza by the Israeli attacks, some recognize the hallmarks of a genocide, while others justify the brutality as “defense.” I am not at all drawing an equivalence between these two views, nor do I believe that “the truth is somewhere in between.” The actions of Israel and the words of their leadership do indeed square with the definition of genocide, and it is not merely shameful but potentially criminal that the US political establishment, including Biden, is supporting them.
Do I believe this because of the particular media that I follow? Yes. Does that make me as “conditioned” as everyone else? You can decide.
As a seasoned media critic, I know that not all media is created equal, nor are all narratives merely different forms of spin. Corporate media is a component of The System and its narratives reflect the priorities and biases of The System, which favor profit-over-people, the destruction of nature for “development,” and violence as a means to retain control. Given that I oppose these things, I am actively disinterested in narratives that support them, and so I do not consume corporate media directly. Furthermore, I know that the corporate media is sophisticated enough that if I watched it regularly, I would start to buy it. Very few people are able to expose themselves to it and not be swayed. It’s not about being “smart”—it’s that the machine is really good at what it does, and just has different hooks for “smart” people (cough cough NPR).
The media I follow is what’s called, “independent” or “alternative” (and yes, those links are coming up soon). Its place in the US media world is marginal, its perspectives fringe. Facing the sheer mass of corporate media, it is a single match outshone by stadium lights. It is incapable of manufacturing narrative in the same way.
Which is not to say that some of those who produce independent media are not ideological. Many certainly are, very much so. But plainly expressed ideology lacks the punch of institutionally produced narrative for the simple fact that the latter is usually successful at disguising its ideology and thus appearing to be above such things. This is one reason why it is so convincing to so many. It is able to present the most extreme concepts as common sense (e.g., the monetization of everything, the mass degradation of living ecology, the supposed necessity of war). Or as Walter Cronkite put it every night for decades, “That’s the way it is.”
Critics might counter that alternative media merely defines a different “spectrum of acceptable opinion” that is no less narrow for being outside The System. That depends on how you define “independent” or “alternative.” Media can be called “independent,” say, just because it is independently funded without corporate money, but in my mind it’s not “alternative” unless its content challenges the status quo.
For example, there’s a plethora of “independent” right-wing podcasts, blogs, YouTubers, etc., that are white supremacist, anti-Semitic, viciously misogynistic, etc., but I wouldn’t call them “alternative” because right-wing ideology is and always has been integral to The System. Lest we forget, in the context of global politics, capitalism is a right-wing ideology. So there is nothing “alternative” about right-wing ideologies or right-wing media, independent or not.
Looking at things this way, only left-wing perspectives are “alternative.” Socialism, Communism, and Anarchism are among the familiar flavors, and here in the US such organizations and their leadership have been targeted for harassment, infiltration and assassination by the establishment during the three “Red Scares” of the last hundred plus years (including the current one), with COINTELPRO rolled out especially for blacks and students. We can also add the “Green Scare” of the early 2000s which attacked environmental activists. Please note that there has never been a “Brown Scare” (against fascists) or a “White Scare” (against white supremacists), since, as noted, these forces pose no threat to the status quo.
Among left-wing viewpoints, some are “narrow” in the sense of being rigorous, but their strict adherents are few in number, and the bias in their literature and other media productions tends to be transparent, making it easy to get what information you want from it without losing yourself in a narrative. I am not a socialist, but I appreciate and regularly follow socialist media because: a) it is outside the narrow spectrum of Republican-Democrat politics, b) its internationalist perspective includes the voices, ideas and experiences of people all over the world, and c) it is frequently anti-war. After three years of listening to “The Socialist Program” twice a week, I have a greater understanding and respect for socialist viewpoints than I did before—especially their well-developed critique of capitalism—but I’m no closer to becoming a socialist than I was before, mostly because I believe our challenges are deeper than socialism goes. (See my 2019 essay, “Our problems are deeper than ‘capitalism’ (and ‘socialism’ alone can’t solve them).”)
One exception to the idea that only left-wing ideologies are alternative is, perhaps, the principle of pacifism/anti-militarism, which is embraced by people who identify themselves all across the left-right spectrum. But being antiwar is very much antithetical to The System, and so it is undeniably “alternative.”
I’ve been off of social media since early 2023 and currently get most of my news from podcasts. I check a handful of websites too, but to a lesser extent. I greatly value the depth of coverage and discussion possible with podcasts, and I also appreciate that I can imbibe them without staring at a screen. I use the Podbean app because it automatically downloads new episodes for listening offline and with my lifestyle I often end up in places without enough signal for streaming. [Podbean: Android | Apple]
I’ve been wanting to share a list of recommended podcasts for some time, and given the intensity of Gaza, I didn’t want to wait any longer. Since Gaza is the subject, I will start with podcasters who are Jewish. The idea that it’s “anti-Semitic” or “anti-Jewish” to be critical of the policies of the state of Israel or the philosophy of Zionism is total bunk, and my best teachers on this subject have been Jewish voices like these, who are so clear and eloquent.
The Katie Halper Show
An interview show. Katie often lines up multiple guests at once, which is unusual. Since Oct. 7, she has interviewed Prof. Norman Finkelstein twice. Finkelstein is a a political scientist, prolific author, and son of Holocaust survivors, who is well known for his scholarly work on Palestine, and I especially recommend those episodes, on 10/20 and 11/5.
Useful Idiots
A weekly commentary / interview show, hosted by Katie Halper and Aaron Mate, who is also Jewish, and the son of scholar Gabor Mate. Every show begins with the “Four Basic Food Groups,” a feature started by former co-host Matt Taibbi, who got the phrase from an old school journalist who said all stories in the US media fall into one of four categories: “Democrats suck,” “Republicans suck,” “Isn’t that weird” and “Isn’t that terrible.” After this feature, the two interview a guest.
Common Censored
A weekly commentary show hosted by comedian Lee Camp and activist-documentarian-musician Eleanor Goldfield, both Jewish. Eleanor also co-hosts the Project Censored podcast.
The Lee Camp Show
Also known as “Dangerous Ideas” and “Moment of Clarity.” A commentary show hosted by Lee Camp, with an occasional interview. Lee is especially sharp with the media criticism.
Scheer Intelligence
A weekly interview show hosted by veteran journalist, Robert Scheer, whose media career started in the ‘60s. His experience covering Palestine goes back to the Six Day War of 1967, when he visited Egypt and Palestine while reporting for Ramparts Magazine. Scheer’s mother was a Russian Jew and his extended family on that side was killed in Lithuania by the Nazis. Scheer is not my favorite interviewer because he tends to interrupt his guests too much, but I still listen because his guests are top notch and his reminiscences are interesting (if sometimes long-winded).
Honorable Mentions:
Aaron Mate also hosts Pushback, an interview show, which is far less than weekly, but worth it when it’s uploaded. He also sometimes co-hosts The Grayzone with Max Blumenthal (also Jewish), founder of The Grayzone website. I’m not a big fan of Max because I find his presentation unappealing (just a personal thing), but he and The Grayzone have broken some important stories and they’re worth checking out.
And now for Gentile-hosted shows:
Going Rogue
Caitlin Johnstone’s regular columns, read by her husband. These episodes come out several times a week but are usually only about 5 minutes long. Johnstone is probably my very favorite columnist because of her antiwar principles and her attention to media criticism, including her regular focus on the role of narrative in manufacturing consent. My own understanding of the importance of narrative has definitely been informed by her work. As an Australian, she has an outside view of the US that I like. She is also a poet and a painter and someone who values the importance of the inner journey in life. She’s like nobody else on this list and if you had to pick just one columnist to read, I would recommend her.
Antiwar News
A news show hosted by Dave DeCamp every weekday. This half-hour show is a mainstay for me. I listen everyday. Dave goes through the headlines at Antiwar.com, reading portions of the stories. He is very good at contextualizing the news, reminding listeners of important background. Antiwar.com is a libertarian website, so definitely not leftist. We agree that US militarism abroad should end, but we disagree on what to do with the money currently spent on it, but that’s fine because Dave keeps it to foreign policy and this podcast is always informative and concise. If you were looking to listen to just one podcast for foreign policy news, I would recommend this one.
The Socialist Program
At the other end of the ideological spectrum, we have this twice-weekly show, usually hosted by veteran activist Brian Becker. One show each week is a half hour interview with economics professor, Richard Wolff, a Marxist, and the other is an hour-long interview or commentary. Brian is cofounder of the ANSWER Coalition, the antiwar group that formed immediately after Sept. 11, but his own antiwar work goes all the way back to the Vietnam era. I’m not a socialist, but I greatly appreciate this show and what I learn from it. It’s great hearing the news from a perspective that’s not cheerleading for either the Democrats or the Republicans (cuz I’m also neither of those).
Rania Khalek Dispatches
An interview show hosted by Lebanese-American Rania Khalek, who lives in Beirut. Dispatches is a production of Breakthrough News, a great YouTube channel that also features Eugene Puryear. Rania’s guests are usually not US Americans, and getting that perspective is so valuable.
Empire Files
An interview show hosted by the inimitable Abby Martin, who has been covering Palestine for years now. I have not yet seen her 2019 documentary, “Gaza Fights For Freedom,” but it’s supposed to be amazing. It’s about the Great March of Return protests, when Gazans unsuccessfully attempted to use nonviolence to resist Israeli oppression. One of Abby’s better known short videos: “Israelis Speak Candidly to Abby Martin About Palestinians.” Abby is an authority on the topic of Palestine for sure, and she is both professional and impassioned.
Media Roots Radio
A commentary show hosted by Abby Martin and her brother Robbie Martin. Robbie does many solo episodes too. Their discussions are enjoyable in part because of their sibling dynamic, and cover a wide range of topics including politics, technology and conspiracy theories. On that last one, Robbie is able to dive deep, deep down the rabbit hole and return unscathed to tell us what he saw there. This is a podcast like no other and is the only Patreon I have a paid subscription to.
Give the People What They Want!
Billing itself as, “Your weekly movement news roundup,” this podcast of news and commentary is hosted by Vijay Prashad, Prasanth R, and Zoe Alexandra. It’s produced by Peoples Dispatch, ” a network of independent progressive media projects from across the globe.” Of all the podcasts on this list, this one provides the most coverage from the global south. Want to make sense of a fraught election in Latin America, or confusing events in Africa? Tune in here.
Antiwar Radio / The Scott Horton Show
These are two weekly interview shows in the same feed. “Antiwar Radio” has been a program on LA’s Pacifica Radio station for over a decade. “The Scott Horton Show” dates back to the ’90s. Scott is a dyed-in-the-wool libertarian, and on the very few occasions he strays from foreign policy, I’m likely to cringe, but he has excellent guests. He talks to people all over the political spectrum, including the far left, and is more likely to interview military experts than anyone else on this list. Given how often the corporate media broadcasts “military experts” who are really just shills for the weapons industry [see here & here], it is refreshing to hear honest-to-goodness military analysis from people in the know.
On The Ground
“Voices of Resistance from the Nation’s Capitol,” hosted by Esther Iverem. News, interviews and street reporting, including speeches at protests. Often featured are Prof. Gerald Horne and journalist John Jeter.
Black Agenda Radio
Interview show hosted by Margaret Kimberley of the indispensable Black Agenda Report. I used to listen to this every week but then Podbean stopped carrying new episodes, so it’s been off my radar for awhile, but I’m including it because I always enjoyed it so much. Researching this piece, I see that new episodes are no longer appearing at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify either [!] but it is up-to-date at Soundcloud.
Counterspin
A commentary and interview show, weekly, hosted by Janine Jackson and produced by Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting, the media watchdog group. This is consistently some of the best media criticism out there. Required listening. I also suggest signing up for their email newsletter and getting all their articles right in your in-box. You’ll never look at the news the same way again.
