Omar El Akkad

It's 2074 and a suicide bomber has killed the President of the United States. Months later Marines open fire on protesters killing dozens. The Second American Civil War has just begun and once again the North and South are pitted against each other. This is all according to the dystopian world chronicled in Omar El Akkad's novel, American War. El Akkad's imagined, yet familiar, world is reflective of today's deep political and societal fissures, but it also pushes us to understand the universal language of war and ruin, to what happens after the violence begins and why it's so hard to end.In this episode of Throughline, we immerse ourselves in El Akkad's 'what could be' to understand larger questions about history, humanity, and American exceptionalism.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Omar El Akkad, an acclaimed novelist and former journalist, delves into the complex politics surrounding Gaza in his latest work. He discusses the profound suffering endured over the past two years and critiques the West’s failure to support Gaza. El Akkad addresses the contradictions of the US's role as a peace broker and the troubling trend of historical amnesia regarding atrocities. He highlights a shift in public opinion and the importance of recognizing acts of resistance among youth, contrasting it with the civility of political figures.

Join novelist and journalist Omar El Akkad as he delves into the powerful themes of his National Book Award-nominated work. He shares his emotional disconnection from the West and critiques the Democratic Party's response to Gaza. El Akkad discusses practical resistance to capitalism and how to engage children in understanding global atrocities, emphasizing compassion over indifference. His personal journey from Egypt through various countries informs his insights, making for a thought-provoking conversation on ethics in today’s political landscape.