Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast Reckoning with the West
Mar 27, 2025
Omar El Akkad, a US-based writer and journalist known for his powerful essays, dives deep into the complexities of Western perceptions of justice and accountability influenced by his Middle Eastern childhood. He discusses the troubling parallels between the narratives surrounding Gaza and historical conquests in North America. El Akkad also sheds light on the ethical dilemmas journalists face amidst misinformation in conflict reporting. His reflections on grassroots movements and the emotional burden of addressing violence provide a compelling commentary on political and moral challenges.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Historical Parallels
- El Akkad connects the narrative around Gaza to the conquest of North America.
- He recognizes similar patterns of justifying violence by labeling others as savages.
Journalism's Limits
- Traditional journalism struggles when actors lack good faith, as seen with coverage of Medicare fraud.
- A reporter falsely equated a 5% error rate with a lawmaker's claim of 50% fraud.
Media Bias
- Western media often embeds with the IDF, receiving a biased view.
- Simultaneously, reports from Gazan journalists are deemed unreliable due to their ethnicity.