System Update with Glenn Greenwald New Laura Poitras Documentary: On War, Propaganda & the Corporate Media
Jan 21, 2026
Laura Poitras, an Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker known for her fearless investigative work, discusses her new film, Cover Up, focused on journalist Seymour Hersh. She delves into the importance of adversarial journalism and the emotional toll of reporting atrocities. Poitras highlights how the press often rehashes state narratives, the need for skepticism towards power, and Hersh's steadfast commitment to uncovering the truth. Their conversation also touches on the complexities of verifying sources and the effects of government cover-ups on public trust.
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Hersh As A Lens On U.S. War Lies
- Laura Poitras frames Seymour Hersh's career as a continuous expose of U.S. war crimes and government lies.
- The film reveals new details and reframes familiar events to change how viewers view current foreign policy debates.
Poitras On Being Targeted By The State
- Laura Poitras recounts being put on a U.S. government watch list that led to repeated detentions and seizures of her devices.
- That intrusion followed her Iraq insurgency film and preceded her later Oscar-winning work on Snowden.
History And Editing Create Investigative Tension
- Poitras chose a historical, thematic approach to show repetition in government cover-ups and media compliance.
- She edited to keep audiences discovering facts alongside Hersh, creating investigative tension similar to classic 1970s films.
