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 award-winning journalist and novelist, discusses his recent book on the moral failures of Western liberalism regarding the Gaza crisis. He questions the West's inaction amidst ongoing genocide and reflects on personal narratives of identity and conflict. Chi Ossé, a dynamic NYC council member, highlights the left's rising political momentum in the city and shares insights into the innovative campaign strategies of younger politicians. The episode emphasizes social media's role in driving housing activism and community engagement.

Omar El Akkad, a journalist and acclaimed author of "American War" and "What Strange Paradise," discusses his latest non-fiction work critiquing Western hypocrisy regarding the Gaza conflict. He reflects on how identity and storytelling shape perceptions of war and migration. Focusing on America's moral failures, he examines the impact of political systems on the Palestinian plight and the emotional complexities faced by individuals in conflicting cultural realms. Through personal anecdotes, he emphasizes the urgent need for meaningful advocacy and understanding in today's society.