It's Not You, It's The Media

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri embark on a detailed breakdown of Islamophobia, dissecting its historical roots, modern manifestations, and the critical role the media plays in perpetuating anti-Muslim sentiment. They examine how Islamophobia has evolved from colonial narratives into a sophisticated mechanism of systemic hatred, embedded in global power structures. The episode traces the etymology and history of the term “Islamophobia,” highlighting how it fails to capture the full extent of the deliberate dehumanization faced by Muslims worldwide. The hosts delve into the media’s complicity in spreading stereotypes, from conflating Muslim identities with terrorism to sensationalized portrayals of Muslim women as both oppressed and in need of saving. The discussion also emphasizes the intersectionality of Islamophobia, illustrating how it overlaps with racism, sexism, casteism, and imperialism to create a multi-layered system of discrimination. The hosts describe the ways in which Islamophobia is normalized in diverse contexts – from the United States’ post-9/11 policies to France’s secularism debates and India’s Hindu nationalist agenda.Keywords: Islamophobia, media, terrorism, pop culture, politics, education, activism, Muslim communities, representation, stereotypesKey Takeaways: Islamophobia has been prevalent for centuries, especially intensified by recent events in Palestine. The definition of Islamophobia is often misunderstood, leading to a lack of awareness about its manifestations. What is Islamophobia? What is its definition, the etymology, and its historical and cultural evolution?The term “Islamophobia” can seem too mild and does not capture its pernicious and violent effects. Media plays a significant role in shaping negative perceptions of Muslims and Islam, and structures its narratives around the term “phobia” and the deliberate, systemic hatred it represents.Terrorism is often misrepresented in the media, focusing on non-state actors while ignoring state-sponsored violence. Doing so, it conflates the identity of terrorism with the identity of Islam. Pop culture contributes to the normalization of Islamophobic narratives through films and television, such as the TV show Homeland and movies like Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Media and political discourse often uses the narrative of saving Muslim women to justify military interventions.Islamophobia is not just a Western issue; it has global implications, affecting Muslim communities worldwide. Local political narratives feed into the global depiction of Islam and anti-Muslim hate.Education about Islamophobia and “unlearning” these coded messages is crucial, however, the effort required starts from the personal and familial levels.Activism and organizing against Islamophobia are essential for creating change.Hosted by: Suchitra Vijayan, Bhakti Shringarpure, and Madhuri SastryA podcast by The Polis ProjectReferences:Do Muslim Women Need Saving? by Lila Abu-Lughod https://ideas.time.com/2013/11/01/do-muslim-women-need-saving/ On Edward Said’s Orientalism

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri discuss narratives of blame in the aftermath of the loss of Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party in the 2024 US elections. Donald Trump’s win sent shockwaves through liberal media who have been uncritically championing a candidate who played to the center and styled herself as a conservative rather than connecting with her progressive base. Within hours of exit polls, the blame games began on social media and in mainstream outlets. The episode works through the main groups being falsely blamed: progressives, Latinos, Muslims, Black men, misogyny, third-party candidates such as Jill Stein, and President Biden. The conversation exposes the media’s racist and sexist biases and their deliberate sidelining of the genocide in Palestine. It emphasizes the importance of third-party candidates, and insists on the need for accountability within the Democratic Party and the media. The discussion highlights the disillusionment of voters and the consequences of shifting blame rather than addressing systemic issues. Key Takeaways: The Democratic Party has always relied on the votes of minority and progressive communities to win elections, and despite the results, they are continuously thrown under the bus by the Democrats. The media often promotes this rhetoric and shifts blame to marginalized groups after election losses.Misogyny and racism are frequently used as scapegoats and tools to escape accountability in political narratives.Votes during elections are neither owed nor are they for granted, an attribute which is often weaponized by the Democratic Party to further their interests.The Democratic Party's failure to connect with its base leads to disillusionment.Third-party candidates like Jill Stein are unfairly vilified for election outcomes.Voter disillusionment is a significant factor in recent election results.The two-party system is increasingly seen as inadequate by the electorate.Liberal media weaponizes identity politics to shape media narratives that can influence public perception and accountability.The blame game distracts from the real issues at play in elections.The consequences of ignoring voter needs can be dire for political parties as voters are capable of making sound and different decisions.Keywords: media, blame games, election outcomes, Kamala Harris, misogyny, racism, third-party candidates, voter disillusionment, political narratives, accountabilityReferences:CNN 2024 US Presidential Elections Exit Polls - https://edition.cnn.com/election/2024/exit-polls/national-results/general/president/0Owen Jones (X/Twitter post) - https://x.com/owenjonesjourno/status/1854523217475506674Yasmin Nair - Kamala Harris Will Lose https://yasminnair.com/kamala-harris-will-lose/ Ruby Hamad - Re/Orient: To Scorn Third-Party Voters Is To Demand Two Increasingly Draconian Options

Suchitra, Bhakti and Madhuri declare “We Told You So” in light of the disastrous defeat of Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party in the 2024 US elections. By "we," the hosts refer to the loyal constituency of people who definitely did not want to see Donald Trump in power. These very people have been offering feedback to the Kamala Harris campaign and calling out mainstream media’s uncritical approach to her candidacy. Coverage of the Harris campaign in newspapers and on television has only been uncritically adoring, and it has since become clear that those with influence in the media do not have a pulse of what the people want. Harris alienated the progressives by pivoting to the center and pushing to connect with Republican voters. She alienated the youth by a celebrity-driven campaign that did not appeal to the younger voters who are concerned about the environment and the genocide in Palestine. The Harris campaign chided voters and talked down to them, essentially telling them not to be stupid to vote for Trump rather than connecting with them as a candidate. The war in Gaza loomed over the Harris campaign and it was made worse by Harris' decision to not speak with Palestinians and Arab voters. The episode reminds listeners of many warning signals that were being given by progressive, alternate media including this podcast that Harris would lose. They told you so, and now this failure to listen has put the US and the world in a Trump presidency that is going to be devastating on several fronts. Key takeaways: -- The cultural elite such as talk show hosts and news pundits are completely out of touch with the zeitgeist and have no pulse on the people. -- There should have been a primary so that we could have settled on someone we could get behind rather than the candidate who came in last in the 2020 primaries. -- Kamala Harris should not have run as a centrist and alienated the progressives.-- Harris should not underestimate the impact of unfolding genocide in Palestine on the people. -- Harris should have met with the Palestinian and Arab constituency -- The Harris campaign’s focus on celebrities and social media could not harness the support of the youth but alienated them. -- The failures and the callousness of the Democratic party have squarely put the US in a Trump presidency that is going to be devastating for brown, Black and working class communities.Keywords: elections, journalism, media ethics, reporting, headlines, propaganda, narratives, war, genocide, racism, youth.References:Arab American voters warned Kamala, Al Jazeera - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/6/we-warned-you-arab-americans-in-michigan-tell-kamala-harris Data hints at warnings signs for Harris - Economic Times https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/data-hints-at-warning-signs-for-kamala-harris-here-are-what-they-are-and-why-it-could-be-damaging-for-the-vp/articleshow/114015755.cms?from=mdr Warning signs for Harris are flashing red - In These Times

Suchitra, Bhakti and Madhuri analyze the genre of "book reviews" and the ways in which they are instrumental in shaping opinion on writers, literature, ideas, and culture, more broadly. Book reviews are an extremely vital part of all newspapers and media outlets but the undergirding questions is who gets reviewed and who gets ignored? Book reviews have moved away from tackling ideas, and have instead become publicity and marketing tools for big, corporate publishers. The discussion focuses on the explicit anti-intellectualism of book reviews. There is a complete disregard for challenging the mainstream narratives and there is an obsession with accessible and simplistic writing. Books reviews deliberately shun complex, theoretical or philosophical works. Book reviews have a gatekeeping function and further the notion that political writing is bad writing that does not deserve to be reviewed at all. Thus, liberal media tends to sustain the propaganda that there is a divide between art and politics. The episode also touches on the ways in which identity politics prevents deeper engagement with writers of color. Finally, the hosts explore the controversy around Ta-Nehisi Coates' latest book The Messenger since Coates has found himself at the center of pernicious debates in mainstream media because of his pro-Palestinian stance. Keywords: books, novels, book reviews media, ethics, narratives, gatekeeping, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Palestine, African literature, Publishing, style, genre, anti-intellectualism, marketing, scholars, experts, writers, authors, literature. Key takeaways: Book reviews might seem harmless and amusing but they perform meaning-making activity by shaping opinions and narratives. Book reviews peddle an explicit anti-intellectualismThe book review industry is in the business of selling books rather than introducing readers to new ideas. Media outlets only review books published by big corporate presses and sideline independent, smaller or academic presses. Media outlets only publish reviews about accessible books that are written in a simplistic style and categorically do not match the book with an expert.The publishing world along with the book review industry has birthed a world of similarly written books that are apolitical and unthreatening to mainstream narratives. Identity politics plays a disproportionate role through the authors that liberal media chooses to anoint but this also adversely precludes deep engagement with the author and their works. Book reviews promote and sustain the American liberal ideology that art and politics are separate, and that political writing is bad writing that does not deserve to be reviewed.The controversy around Ta-Nehisi's Coates' pro-Palestinian book The Messenger has unmasked the liberal establishment and shown their acute Zionist bias. There are smaller and independent media outlets that continue to publish smart and engaged book reviews.Correction: At 38:20, there is a slight factual error, it's not The Atlantic but Vanity Fair.References:If Books Could Kill podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/if-books-could-kill/id1651876897The Messenger by Ta-Nehisi Coates: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/653438/the-message-by-ta-nehisi-coates/Aaron Bady Twitter/X thread: https://x.com/zunguzungu/status/1846515885663781370 Los

Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri delve into the media's problematic portrayal of children, particularly in conflict zones. The episode asks: who gets to be a “child” in mainstream media? The coverage of children over the years reveals two broad themes: 1) the process of “un-childing” and 2) tendency towards saviorism that can produce troubling representations of children’s bodies, especially girls. It addresses how language and representation shape perceptions of childhood, the impact of state policies on Black, brown, and Muslim children, as well as, the contradictions in society's view of innocence. The conversation also highlights the role of the media in normalizing violence against children and maintaining a savior complex that often accompanies humanitarian narratives in non-white and conflict-zone countries. Ultimately, it emphasizes the need for hope and resilience in the face of despair.Keywords: Journalism, media ethics, reporting, headlines, propaganda, narratives, children, Palestine, minority discrimination in the US, race and religious discrimination, representation, genocide, saviorism, white-saviorism, un-childing, police violence, childhood, activism, humanitarianism Key Takeaways: The media plays a significant role in shaping perceptions of childhood.Legal manipulation of language legitimizes comes first and enables the media to justify violence against children.Palestinian children have historically been dehumanized in media coverage.The US has waged totalizing war against children seen in their coverage of police killings of Black youth and in their child services systems.The concept of 'un-childing' reflects a broader societal issue.State policies disproportionately affect non-white children.The basis of colonialism and the existence of the empire is in deliberately targeting family structures that are not deemed conventional or appropriate for them, examples are, removing children from parents, destroying indigenous family structures, etc.There is a contradiction in society's view of childhood innocence.The notion of “genocide” in Palestine is debated in the media but analyzing the deliberate killing of children precisely proves this. Visuals of suffering children can evoke sympathy but also desensitize audiences.Saviorism in humanitarian efforts can perpetuate colonial narratives.Hope and resilience are essential in the fight for justice.Resistance to totalizing logic of Palestinian annihilation and erasure is necessary. References:Incarcerated Childhood and the Politics of Unchilding by N. Shalhoub-KevorkianUN experts deeply concerned over ‘scholasticide’ in Gaza: OHCHRBlack Disparities in Youth Incarceration by The Sentencing Projecta...

Suchitra, Bhakti and Madhuri analyze shocking, biased and racist headlines from mainstream newspapers from the past year with a focus on Palestine, Lebanon and Iran. They discuss the importance and impact of headlines historically but also in a world defined by ever-diminishing attention spans, and where news is mainly read on smartphones. The media appears to have an active investment in war,  the ongoing genocide in Palestine, and in American imperialism, broadly. The hosts tackle three broad trends how headlines were written in the last year: the use of passive voice, the fabrication of a both-sides perspective, and an unabashed racism towards Muslims. This invented grammar of the headlines obfuscates  the identity of the perpetrators, generates vagueness around mass killings, applauds technological prowess of attacks and invasions, and sanitizes and diminishes war crimes. Such headlines and unethical journalism enables the dehumanization of non-white lives and the consequent normalization of violence against them by the state. The episode highlights the urgent necessity for critical awareness and unlearning racist, dehumanizing narratives designed to legitimize and elicit popular consent for brutal state atrocities against non-white, colonized and marginalized people around the world. Key Takeaways The media plays a significant role in shaping public perception of genocide.Headlines are crucial in framing narratives, they contain entire histories of language.Passive voice in reporting obscures accountability and responsibility.“Both-sidesism” in the media creates false equivalences in conflict reporting.The normalisation of racist language in the media and passivity as a tool in reporting contributes to dehumanisation of Arab, Muslim, Queer, and non-White lives.Journalism can act as a tool for genocide, actively participating and propagating, rather than maintaining a check on power.There is a concerted effort by the media to erase and invisibilise the realities of violence against marginalised and colonised communities, ignoring all historical contexts and accountability. Doing so, they continue to keep the harrowing reality of colonialism and imperialism alive.Unlearning harmful narratives is essential for fostering understanding and empathy in the light of a harmful gaslighting and propagandist force.  The complicity of the media in state violence must be critically examined.Keywords: Journalism, media ethics, reporting, headlines, propaganda, narratives, war, genocide, racism, Islamophobia, public perception, both-sidesism, passive voice, Palestine, Lebanon, Iran. References:U.S. Media's Complicity in Israel's Genocide with Sana Saeed (Jadaliyya) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50nEqjFTI-4Assal Rad Twitter/X account: https://x.com/AssalRadJournalism as Genocide/Suchitra Vijayan (The Wire, India) https://thewire.in/communalism/journalism-as-genocideSuchitra Vijayan is a writer, photographer and activist. She is the founder and Executive Director of The Polis Project. For her first book, The Midnight's Border: A People's History of India, Suchitra traveled across the 9000-mile Indian border. A barrister by training, she previously worked for the United Nations war crimes...

In this episode Suchitra, Bhakti, and Madhuri delve into the unethical reporting on sexual violence, particularly in the context of the ongoing genocide perpetrated by Israel on Gaza. The hosts discuss the trends of hyper-reporting and zero reporting, the ethics of how victims are portrayed, and the media's role in fabricating narratives that serve political agendas. They highlight the systemic violence faced by Palestinian prisoners and the contrasting media treatment of different victims, the apathetic conditions of reporting on sexual violence in Indian news media, thereby, emphasizing the need for ethical journalism that prioritizes truth over salaciousness and sensationalism.Key-takeaways: The media has gone as far to fabricate narratives around sexual violence for sensationalism and to dehumanize groups of people. There is a stark contrast between hyper-reporting certain cases and zero reporting in other cases.Victims' bodies are often exploited in unethical ways in reporting.The concept of the 'perfect victim' influences media narratives, also to further the facade of the ‘woke media’.Mainstream media frequently ignores the violence faced by marginalized groups.The MeToo movement has impacted how sexual violence is reported, but inconsistencies remain.Systematic violence in prisons is often overlooked by mainstream media.The US government has been complicit in ignoring sexual violence against Palestinians.Ethical reporting is crucial for justice and awareness.Media sensationalism can lead to voyeurism rather than meaningful change.Further reading:A Critical Look at The New York Times' Weaponization of Rape in Service of Israeli Propaganda (Institute for Palestine Studies) https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/1655054“Between the Hammer and the Anvil” The Story Behind the New York Times October 7 Exposé (Intercept) https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/new-york-times-anat-schwartz-october-7/Leaked NYT Gaza Memo Tells Journalists to Avoid Words “Genocide,” “Ethnic Cleansing,” and “Occupied Territory” (Intercept) https://theintercept.com/2024/04/15/nyt-israel-gaza-genocide-palestine-coverage/Israeli media’s coverage of the rape of Palestinian detainees shows support for sexual violence in service of genocide (Mondoweiss) https://mondoweiss.net/2024/08/israeli-medias-coverage-of-the-rape-of-palestinian-detainees-shows-support-for-sexual-violence-in-service-of-genocide/Here’s what Pramila Patten’s UN report on Oct 7 sexual violence actually said (Mondoweiss) https://mondoweiss.net/2024/03/heres-what-pramila-pattens-un-report-on-oct-7-sexual-violence-actually-said/Keywords: sexual violence, media ethics, reporting, Palestine, India, France, victim narratives, MeToo, BelieveHer, journalism, torture, consent, mainstream media Suchitra Vijayan is a writer, photographer and activist. She is the founder and Executive Director of The Polis Project. For her first book, The Midnight's Border: A People's History of India, Suchitra traveled across the 9000-mile...

Suchitra Vijayan, Bhakti Shringarpure and Madhuri Sastry dissect the media's coverage of Kamala Harris, focusing on the Democratic National Convention and the presidential debate. Coverage of Harris has focused on the portrayal of her as a youthful 'brat', excessive focus on aesthetics, and the lack of critical analysis in mainstream media. They explore the implications of her political identity, the gaslighting from the media, and the ongoing issues of racism in migration policies. The conversation culminates in a critique of the superficiality of political discourse and the need for accountability in journalism.Key-takeaways: The media's coverage of Kamala Harris has been overwhelmingly positive, lacking critical analysis.The Democratic National Convention was more about aesthetics than substance.Harris' image is crafted to appeal to youth culture, but it raises questions about authenticity and effectiveness with young voters.There is a significant shift in Harris' political ideology towards conservatism since the 2020 Presidential Election.The media often gaslights the public, framing critiques as radicalism.The debate between Harris and Trump highlighted their similar right-wing stances, highlighting the acute similarities in the ideological policies between the Democrats and Republicans.Racism, migration, and foreign military policies are critical issues that are often overlooked in media narratives.The illusion of choice between Trump and Harris obscures deeper systemic issues.The burden of proof for political accountability has shifted away from candidates to the electorate with the effect of silencing any critique about the ruling class.The concept of joy in politics is being co-opted, losing its radical roots.Suchitra Vijayan is a writer, photographer and activist. She is the founder and Executive Director of The Polis Project. For her first book, The Midnight's Border: A People's History of India, Suchitra traveled across the 9000-mile Indian border. A barrister by training, she previously worked for the United Nations war crimes tribunals in Yugoslavia and Rwanda before co-founding the Resettlement Legal Aid Project in Cairo, which gives legal aid to Iraqi refugees. She is the co-author of How Long Can the Moon Be Caged? Voices of Indian Political Prisoners (2023) which offers a lens into today's India through the lived experiences of political prisoners.Bhakti Shringarpure is a writer and editor. She is the co-founder of Warscapes magazine which transitioned into the Radical Books Collective, a community building project that creates an alternative approach to books and reading. Bhakti is the author of Cold War Assemblages: Decolonization to Digital (2019) and editor of Literary Sudans: An Anthology of Literature from Sudan and South Sudan (2017), Imagine Africa (2017) Mediterranean: Migrant Crossings (2018) and most recently, Insurgent Feminisms: Writing War (2023).Madhuri Sastry is a former lawyer, specializing in international and human rights law. She was the publisher of Guernica Magazine. Her political writing, cultural criticism, interviews and essays have appeared in several publications including The Nation, Guernica, Slate, Bitch and New York Magazine. She is on the editorial board at The Polis Project. 

Are you questioning your reality? Do you feel gaslighted? It's not you, it's the media. Suchitra Vijayan, Bhakti Shringarpure and Madhuri Sastry will join forces to eviscerate the propaganda, set the record straight and offer much needed moral clarity. Tune in each week. It's Not You, It's the Media. A podcast by the Polis Project. https://www.thepolisproject.com/Hosts:Suchitra Vijayan is a writer, photographer and activist. She is the founder and Executive Director of The Polis Project. For her first book, The Midnight's Border: A People's History of India, Suchitra traveled across the 9000-mile Indian border. A barrister by training, she previously worked for the United Nations war crimes tribunals in Yugoslavia and Rwanda before co-founding the Resettlement Legal Aid Project in Cairo, which gives legal aid to Iraqi refugees. She is the co-author of How Long Can the Moon Be Caged? Voices of Indian Political Prisoners (2023) which offers a lens into today's India through the lived experiences of political prisoners.Bhakti Shringarpure is a writer and writer. She is the co-founder of Warscapes magazine which transitioned into the Radical Books Collective, a multi-faceted community building project that creates an alternative, inclusive and non-commercial approach to books and reading. Bhakti is the author of Cold War Assemblages: Decolonization to Digital (2019) and editor of Literary Sudans: An Anthology of Literature from Sudan and South Sudan (2017), Imagine Africa (2017) Mediterranean: Migrant Crossings (2018) and most recently, Insurgent Feminisms: Writing War (2023).Madhuri Sastry is a writer with a human rights law background. She is on the advisory board of The Polis Project. Her writing has appeared in several publications including Slate, Guernica, Catapult, and Bitch.