
Citations Needed
Citations Needed is a podcast about the intersection of media, PR, and power, hosted by Nima Shirazi and Adam Johnson.
Latest episodes

10 snips
Jul 10, 2024 • 56min
The Great Neoliberal Burden Shift (Part II)- How Corporate America Offset Liability Onto Its Workers
The podcast discusses how corporations shift safety responsibility onto workers to save costs. It explores historical blame shifting onto employees for accidents. Amazon's workplace safety issues and corporate PR strategies are scrutinized. The impact of misclassifying workers and lax safety enforcement is highlighted. The importance of government regulators and unions in ensuring workplace safety is emphasized.

24 snips
Jul 3, 2024 • 1h 3min
The Great Neoliberal Burden Shift (Part I) - How Corporate America Offset Liability Onto the Public
This podcast delves into how corporations shift blame onto individuals in areas like transportation, climate, and food safety. It explores the historical scapegoating of workers and pedestrians in the auto industry, the rise in pedestrian deaths due to car accidents, and the manipulation of environmental responsibility onto consumers. The discussion highlights how public narratives often deflect attention from systemic issues and critique the corporate avoidance of responsibility.

Jun 19, 2024 • 44min
News Brief: Unions, Gaza, and Labor's Checkered Relationship With US Militarism
Historian Jeff Schuhrke discusses labor's response to Gaza, union history with US militarism, and the need for tangible action. Topics include US labor support for military interventions, unions endorsing candidates involved in conflicts, conservatives using anti-Semitism laws against pro-Palestinian unions, and the AFL-CIO's role in global anti-communism. Learn about Jeff Schuhrke's upcoming book 'Blue-Collar Empire' and his call for global worker solidarity.

Jun 12, 2024 • 50min
Live Show: Student Organizers Breakdown Media Distortions Over Gaza College Encampments
Student organizers Layla Saliba and Jonathan Ben-Menachem discuss media distortions over Gaza college encampments, criticizing biased narratives, safety concerns, and lack of accountability. They highlight challenges faced, community-building efforts, and the importance of solidarity in activism against ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Jun 5, 2024 • 1h 10min
Ep 203: Ideological Shaping of the Possible Part II: How Corporate Think Tanks Function as Influence Laundromats
Susan Rice discusses the influence of corporate-funded think tanks on US media and Democratic policymaking, exposing their ties to business interests. The podcast explores the power of these think tanks in shaping public opinion and policy, highlighting their questionable funding sources like weapons contractors and pharmaceutical companies. It also uncovers the hypocrisy of centrist Astroturf groups and the impact of biased expert opinions influenced by government and market interests.

May 29, 2024 • 1h
Ep 202: Ideological Shaping of the Possible Part I: Democrats and the Black Box Corporate Consulting Industry
Political strategists David Plouffe, James Carville, and Robert Gibbs discuss the influence of Democratic consultants with corporate ties on party politics. They delve into conflicts of interest, lack of transparency, and the blurred lines between political commentary and corporate affiliations within the US media and political landscape.

26 snips
May 15, 2024 • 1h 20min
Episode 201: The Conservative, Faux-Erudite Rise of Nuance Trolling
Aliza Pilichowski, nuanced view of Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Discuss rise of Nuance Trolling blocking societal progress. Analysis on deceptive tactics, historical perspectives on Vietnam War, media discourse exposing deceptive practices, critique on using nuance to maintain status quo. Emphasis on collective action over intricate discussions for societal change.

14 snips
May 8, 2024 • 24min
News Brief: Axios, NYT Help White House Obscure Their Role in Rafah Invasion
Critique of US administration's support for Israel, manipulation of ceasefire terms, political complexities of the conflict, US government's contradictory actions, White House's political maneuvers for 2024 election, mainstream institutions and wealthy donors critique White House's actions

20 snips
Apr 27, 2024 • 33min
News Brief: Campus Anti-Genocide Protests and the Weaponization of Squishy, Bad Faith "Safety" Rhetoric
The podcast covers reactions to pro-Palestinian protests on US campuses, from liberal handwringing to police crackdowns. It delves into safety rhetoric and urgency to address the crisis in Gaza, challenging justifications for declaring protests as unsafe. The manipulation of narratives and skewed priorities in the West Bank and Gaza is discussed, urging for leveraging political leverage to stop atrocities. Progressive leaders criticize Democrats for their lack of urgency in confronting ongoing genocide.

Mar 27, 2024 • 1h 2min
Episode 200 - The Rise of the War on Drugs 2.0: This Time It's Different, We Promise
Media sensationalizes hyper potent street drugs like fentanyl, promoting fear. War on Drugs 2.0 doubles down on punitive measures. Critique of carceral logic and lack of genuine solutions. Impact of Measure 110 and resistance to drug decriminalization. Focusing on societal reliance on punishment over social interventions. Reinvestment of marijuana tax revenue in Oregon for treatment and support. Advocacy for prevention-focused solutions over criminalization.
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