August 13, 2025 • 41 mins
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The Truth and Mythology of America's Presidents Series - Season 6, Episode 7
In our 7th episode for Season 6 we continue our deep dive into understanding U.S. Presidents through the analytical lens of "The Wave 1981". We start the discussion with the introductory song "From the Ashes, We Rise!" and dig into understanding Presidents through the lens of "The Wave 1981":
Part 42: Ronald Reagan and the Performance of Power
Part 43: George H. W. Bush and the Post-Cold War Mirage
Part 44: Bill Clinton and the Globalization Trap
Part 45: George W. Bush and the Patriot Act Machine
Part 46: Barack Obama and the Promise Unfulfilled
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
We've seen the tide turn before,from liberty to fear, from truth
to control. But this is not the end.
This is our call to stand the rise to rebuild.
Because democracy is not a gift,it's a choice.
Every day, in child's gas by tyrant's hand, where truth was
drowned beneath the sand, We heard the cry from far and wide,
(00:21):
a silent scream. The stars get high from
Epstein's dark unsealed decay tobump it.
Laws that strip away the mask has slipped, the right exposed,
the halls of power now deposed. But through the noise a spark
remained. A voice not bought, not bent,
Unchained. A Cam and date not borne from
gold but fire. Justice stories to run.
(00:43):
The ashes we rise like the dawn breaking lies with the wave as
our guide we reclaim what survived, not just for one, but
for all. We the people here, the culture
of the wall, we unite, but we born in the light.
From 4 cries ringing out afar toblood red lines in Kandahar.
(01:05):
Authoritarians fed the flame, but millions rose and spoke our
name. The firewall built from every
voice. Survivors made the noblest
choice to lead, to speak, to build a new.
A global dream long overdue. The truth.
They feared, we now declare. The world's not theirs.
We all must care. From cave to Flint, from Gaza
(01:26):
shore. No realms.
Peace anymore. From the ashes we rise.
It's like the dawn breaking lieswith the wave.
There's our guide. We.
Reclaim what? Survive, not just.
For one life for all we the people here, the call to the
wall, we unite or we born in thelight and.
(01:58):
About left to right. It's about right and wrong.
The wave taught us how it happened, slowly, subtly, and
all at once. But we've learned, we've seen,
and we've chosen. Never again.
From the ashes we rise no more heart, for more lies with the
weather within our stride we unite the world wide tie a new
(02:21):
leader, Fortune flay. Not for power.
For the name of every voice that.
Dares to fight. Gobri, born in the light, we
have a fire. We are the wave, and this time
we choose the light. We are the wave, and this time
(02:55):
we choose the light. We've learned, we've seen, and
(03:37):
we've chosen. Never again.
From the ashes we arise. No more hate, no more lies with
the wave. Taught us how it happens slowly,
subtly, than all at once. But we've learned, we've seen,
and we've chosen. Never again.
(04:00):
Welcome back to the Deep Dive. We're the place you come to cut
through all the noise and reallyget to the heart of what
matters. Our mission, like always, is
simple. Take complex stuff, break it
down and pull out those key insights so you can get informed
fast. Today we are jumping into
something. Well, it's pretty heavy.
It's complex, definitely relevant.
We're looking at how the United States over several presidencies
(04:21):
seems to have shifted, maybe slowly, maybe subtly towards
systems that, well, our sources say resemble or even enable
authoritarian control. Serious topic requires some
thought, but honestly, we think it's vital for understanding
where things are today. Our material for this deep dive
is from Educate Resistance, specifically parts 42 to 46 of
their series, The Truth and Mythology of America's
(04:43):
Presidents. Now, these sources, they offer a
particular way of looking at recent U.S. history, kind of
asking us to look beyond the usual stories and as we can get
ready to unpack this kind of makes you think about, you know,
collective spirit, shared ideals.
Think about how sometimes a song, maybe one that's motivated
but also educational and just bring people together, all kinds
of people to stand up for freedom, liberty, equality,
(05:06):
especially when democracy feels threatened.
That spirit, that vigilance, makes you wonder, how did those
ideals hold up when the actual structures of power seem to be,
well, shifting? That's exactly the core
question, isn't it? And that's our mission.
Today. We're going to unpack the
arguments, the evidence laid outin these five parts.
We'll look at each administration, starting with
Reagan going through to Obama, and see how they, according to
(05:28):
the sources, contributed to or maybe just wrestled with things
like expanding state power, growing economic gaps, deeper
social divisions. And often the sources claim this
happened under the banner of, say, progress or national
security, which is kind of ironic.
Our goal isn't to say the sources are right or wrong.
It's to understand the mechanisms they describe, to
(05:49):
analyze them impartially, just grasp the framework they're
presenting. And there's this recurring idea,
this analytical tool they use throughout, which is really key.
It's drawn from that 1981 film The Wave.
Oh right, the 1 based on the classroom experiment.
Exactly. It's powerful, shows how a
movement, even starting with good intentions, you know,
discipline, community can slide into submission, blind
(06:09):
obedience, unchecked power. It's chilling, really.
Yeah, lots of individuality. Precisely.
And this film, this wave idea, serves as a lens for for the
sources as they look at each presidency.
It helps understand these subtleshifts in power, how they echo
the film's lessons about group dynamics, control, and while
losing freedom without always realizing it.
(06:31):
Like a potent metaphor, All right sets a particular tone.
It really does. It helps frame these complex
historical shifts in a relatable, if unsettling way.
OK, let's dive in then. Ronald Reagan.
The sources kick things off witha pretty bold statement.
They call him a Hollywood actor who mastered the art of
illusion. What exactly are they getting at
there? How does that frame his
(06:51):
presidency? It's a really provocative
starting point. They're basically arguing his
presidency was more than just policy.
It was, in a way, a performance crafted to change how people saw
things, their ideology. His acting background, they
suggest, gave him this unique skill to sell a narrative, a
vision, a vision that maybe often hid more complicated
truths. Like that famous line?
Right. Government is not the solution.
(07:14):
Government is the problem. Hugely powerful message.
Lots of people embraced it. But the sources argue this
rhetoric, while sounding like itwas about individual freedom,
you know, less bureaucracy, it actually started undermining
democratic equality by sort of demonizing the government
itself. It laid the groundwork for some
really radical changes. It definitely resonated after
(07:35):
the feeling of malaise in the 70s Hashtag hashtag May the
morning in America Mirage selling a myth.
And that performance aspect, wow.
His promise to bring back pride after Vietnam, Watergate, the
economic slump. It really connected that 1984
Morning in America ad pure optimism.
It felt like sunrise renewal. You can see why the emotional
(07:56):
appeal was just massive. A fresh start.
And that's exactly where the source steps in with a counter
narrative. They say yes, powerful image
that sunrise, but it masked deepening inequality and the
start of a rightward transformation that would to
find government itself. So the feel good story, the
recovery narrative, it potentially obscured these
deeper structural shifts happening underneath.
And this links back to the wave idea right?
(08:17):
Using charisma using these emotionally powerful stories.
The sources stated bluntly, Charisma is a weapon used to
mask real damage with emotional comfortable.
Weapon. Yeah, it suggests a leader's
charm and appealing simple story.
It can effectively hide significant, maybe even damaging
changes in power dynamics or societal well-being.
(08:38):
You get drawn in by the comfort,maybe don't quite see the deeper
shifts. OK, so the image versus the
reality according to the source,hashtag tag, tag, tag, tag, be
trickle down and the authoritarian market power
through deregulation. OK, Beyond the image,
Reaganomics, that was a huge policy shift, big tax cuts,
especially for the wealthy, hitting labor protections hard,
(08:59):
deregulating whole industries. And it was all built on this
trickle down idea, right? That benefits up top would
eventually flow down. It was a bold move.
What do the sources say happened?
Well, the sources argue the results were pretty different
from the promise. They point to things like
exploding inequality, the rise of the corporate elite, and a
surveillance police state to contain unrest.
Wait. A surveillance police state?
(09:20):
How does that connect to economic policy?
That's a key link the sources make.
They argue that these specific economic policies, the
deregulation, the tax cuts for the rich, they didn't lead to
less state control, paradoxically, but potentially
more. The idea is deregulation
concentrated wealth and power. Corporate influence grew.
Then, as inequality got worse and safety Nets weakened, the
(09:43):
potential for social unrest wentup.
OK, so to manage that unrest without fixing the economic
causes, the state often boosts policing and surveillance.
So economic policy becomes, in effect, a tool for broader
social control. That's quite a claim.
It is, and they have this reallysharp insight related to the
wave. Economic authoritarianism
(10:03):
doesn't always wear uniform. Sometimes it comes in a suit
with a smile, promising you freedom as it sells your future.
Chilling so control through economics looking benign.
Exactly, promising freedom, but maybe limiting opportunity for
many and consolidating power fora few.
Hashtag tag, tag tag tag. See Enemies and Empires, the
Cold War script. Then there's the Cold War.
Reagan really dialed that up, calling the USSR the evil
(10:26):
empire, pouring money into the military buildup and the sources
mentioned support for brutal anti communist regimes and
militias from Central America toAfghanistan, often secretly.
It created a very clear enemy. Rally people.
Right. And what the sources find
concerning here is how they connect this Cold War focus to
(10:48):
democratic accountability. Back home.
They use Iran Contra as a prime example.
It showed a government willing to break laws and lie to the
people so long as it played wellon television.
So the ends justified the means essentially.
That's the implication that the law transparency became less
important than public image and the national security narrative,
the sources say. Propaganda isn't just about
censorship, it's about distraction.
(11:10):
Reagan's real genius was in turning complex corruption into
simple patriotism. So focus on the external threat
to distract from internal issues.
That's the argument. Classic wave technique really.
Create a clear enemy. Foster loyalty.
Sideline uncomfortable questions.
Hashtag tag, tag, tag tag tag. Santing D The culture war
begins. Faith, fear, and the family.
And then there's the culture aspect, the rise of the Moral
(11:32):
Majority, the Christian right. The sources mention the seeds of
the 7 Mountain mandate. Suddenly, LGBTQ plus people,
feminists, civil rights activists, they're positioned as
villains in a growing culture war.
It felt like new dividing lines were being drawn.
Yeah, and the sources argue thiswasn't just about policy
differences. It was about turning neighbor
(11:53):
against neighbor, replacing civic duty with tribal fear.
A real fragmentation. National identity starts getting
tied up with specific cultural religious values, often by
explicitly excluding others. That 7 mountain mandate, yeah.
What is that exactly? It's a belief held by some
Christian conservatives that they're called to influence
seven key areas of society, government, education, media,
(12:16):
arts, business, family and religion.
The sources suggest this thinking really gained ground
under Reagan, subtly changing civic discourse.
Wow. And this ties into another
really unsettling wave. Insight from the sources.
Authoritarianism doesn't arrive through tanks.
It enters through pulpits, talk shows and school boards.
So it creeps in through culture,through institutions we trust.
(12:36):
That's the idea. It seeps into the places that
shape our values, our beliefs, making it feel almost normal,
not imposed, redefining how power asserts itself subtly.
So pulling it all together for Reagan, the sources see his
legacy as the normalization of anew kind of American
authoritarianism. 1 blending faith, finance and fantasy,
(12:59):
turning democracy into a performance.
It's a stark view. It is a significant
reinterpretation of a very transformative time.
OK, moving on from Reagan, we get to George HW Bush.
He comes in talking about a new world order.
The Berlin Wall had just fallen.The Soviet Union was dissolving.
It felt like a huge moment of global optimism.
Right. A chance for real international
cooperation? Maybe.
(13:20):
But the sources immediately throw some cold water on that.
They ask Was it really cooperation, or more like the
illusion of American triumph masking deeper cracks at home
and abroad? They suggest that maybe the
victory narrative kind of hid the fact that many underlying
issues were continuing and certain power structures were
quietly expanding. Hashtag tag, tag, tag tag A The
(13:42):
Cold War ends, The illusion begins.
Managing decline in a victory parade.
I mean, the Cold War ending peacefully, that was huge.
And all the talk about a peace dividend redirecting military
spending to domestic needs, schools, infrastructure seemed
like a real chance. But according to the sources,
that peace dividend never came for ordinary Americans.
That's their claim. Instead, they argue, at the
(14:04):
foundations of neoliberal globalization were quietly
cemented, with corporate gains prioritized over public good.
So a continuation, even an acceleration of trends from the
Reagan era. Even with the Cold War over.
Apparently so. According to this analysis, the
focus stayed on policies benefiting corporations,
finance, not necessarily a broaduplift which leads to this way
of insight. Illusions of victory are the
(14:26):
most dangerous. They blind people to their own
unraveling. So the celebration masked
internal problems. That's the suggestion.
The focus on winning distracted from maybe addressing domestic
needs or questioning the direction of globalization.
Hashtag tag Tag Tag B Desert Storm and the spectacle of war
violence, says political theater.
(14:46):
Then 1991 Operation Desert Storm.
It was presented as this quick, clean, limited moral response to
a rock invading Kuwait. Very.
That played out on TV like, well, like a show.
And that idea of spectacle is exactly what the sources focus
on here. They argue Desert Storm
reintroduced militarism as spectacle with tightly
controlled media and a silenced anti war movement.
(15:08):
Controlled media. Yeah, they suggest, the war
became this Managed narrative, sanitized news, curated
reporting, not much room for alternative views.
It was political theater, they argue.
And crucially, they say this cast the long shadow of a rock,
setting precedence for later interventions.
And the wave connection. It's pretty stark.
Authoritarian systems turn war into narrative and the truth
into classified footnotes. So simplifying conflict, hiding
(15:34):
the messy reality. Exactly Fitting it into an
approved story. Burying inconvenient facts under
patriotism and secrecy. Hashtag tag, hashtag, hashtag.
See the American family values mask.
Turning decency into division. Bush also really leaned into
that family values language fromthe religious right, didn't he?
It felt like a continuation of the culture wars from Reagan.
(15:55):
Things like vetoing LGBTQ plus civil rights protections and
that really infamous Willie Horton ad in the 88 campaign
using race and fear under this banner of morality.
And the sources argued these actions weaponized morality to
divide and distract. By framing certain groups or
policies as threats to family values, they suggest the
administration deepen ideological divides.
(16:17):
It distracted from other issues,maybe economic ones, and shored
up support from a specific base.Turning political differences
into moral failings right makes compromise harder, tribalism
easier, which connects to this pointed wave insight.
Respectability politics can be authoritarian too.
How so? It suggests that appeals to
decency or values, even if they sound good, can be used to
stigmatize, exclude and control certain groups.
(16:39):
It's a subtle way to marginalized dissent without
appearing overtly aggressive. Hashtag tag Hashtag tag tag D
From CIA to commander in chief. The deep state in the open.
And Bush's background is pretty unique.
CIA director, UN ambassador, VP deeply involved in national
security intelligence. Yeah, and the sources connect
(16:59):
this to what they see as the quiet expansion of surveillance
infrastructure, the DEA's militarization and growing
intelligence budgets, all under the banner of competence.
So the deep state idea comes up.Well, not necessarily as a
conspiracy, but more about the steady growth of these non
elected national security bureaucracies.
They operate with less public scrutiny, expanding their power
(17:20):
across administrations, often justified by expertise.
Bush's background, while seen bymany as experience, is
interpreted by the sources as consolidating this kind of
power. They describe it, chillingly as
competence without conscience. Competence without conscience.
Yeah, and the related wave insight is unsettling sometimes.
Authoritarianism doesn't look like chaos.
It looks like competence withoutconscience.
(17:42):
Meaning control can be efficient, bureaucratic, almost
invisible. Exactly.
Highly organized systems that look professional, benign, but
quietly expand their reach. A very different picture of how
control might work. So, summarizing the sources on
GHW Bush, beneath the Polish thepromise of order, they argue he
helped lay the groundwork for the permanent war economy, the
(18:04):
global neoliberal order, and themoral theater of culture wars.
A quiet solidification. A quiet but significant
continuation and cementing of these trends, according to this
analysis. All right, let's move into the
Bill Clinton years. This was the era of promising a
third way, right, Something beyond left and right.
Pragmatism, unity. But the sources immediately pose
a challenge. Was it pragmatism, or maybe
(18:26):
capitulation to existing powers?Was it unity or more like
silencing of dissent? They definitely set up that
tension right away. The core argument is that
Clintons presidency fast trackedcorporate globalization, mass
incarceration, and bipartisan neoliberalism.
They frame it as what seemed pragmatic was often giving in to
corporate interests. What sounded like unity actually
(18:49):
meant marginalizing voices from labor, environmental groups,
civil rights advocates who wanted more fundamental change.
So challenging the progressive narrative of his president.
Very much so. Hashtag check.
Tech tech Tech Tayda. The globalization trap.
NAFTA and the Border. Moron.
OK NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement 1994.
Huge deal promoted as a win for everyone, workers, businesses.
(19:10):
Hemiseric Partnership looked very forward thinking.
But the sources paint a really different picture.
Focusing on the consequences, they argue that for millions in
Mexico, Central America, some USworking communities, NAFTA meant
economic dislocation, labor exploitation and a surge in
migration. How did migration connect?
Well the argument is free movement of goods but not people
(19:31):
as say Mexican farmers couldn't compete with subsidized US
imports, many were displaced andmoved N This then led to the US
increasing border enforcement, building walls, militarizing the
border. So policies promising benefits
had specific negative impacts, leading directly to more state
control over movement. Or chain reaction basically.
(19:51):
Site here is pretty potent. The system says we open the door
for you, but it only leads to a trap it designed.
Suggesting these big opportunities can actually be
trapped. For some, yes.
Mechanisms leading to disempowerment, economic
coercion and then physical containment.
That's the sources interpretation.
Hashtag tag, tag tag tag tag B Crime bills and chains.
(20:12):
Mass incarceration by design. Then there's the 1994 crime
bill, another huge piece of legislation.
Clinton championed it. Bipartisan support presented as
the the answer to rising crime. The sources analyze its impact
as profound and lasting. They say it expanded police
forces built prisons and imposedmandatory minimums.
(20:33):
The result, they argue, was entire generations, especially
Black and brown communities, criminalized under a bipartisan
banner of law and order. Billions for prisons. 100,000
New police expanded death penalty, tougher drug sentences.
It was a massive expansion of the justice system.
Absolutely, and the sources makethis critical claim.
(20:53):
The carceral wave didn't begin with Trump.
It's swelled under Clinton, pointing to a bipartisan embrace
of policies that massively grew the prison system.
And the wave connection here. It's about the subtlety.
The machine doesn't always roar.Sometimes it hums in policy
papers and smiles on the campaign trail.
Meaning oppressive systems can advance quietly.
Yeah, through seemingly normal legislative processes packaged
(21:15):
appealingly with bipartisan agreement, not necessarily
through overt force. The humming let's the control
machinery expand almost unnoticed.
Hashtag tag, hashtag Tech C Welfare reform in the moral
frame. From safety net to noose. 1996
welfare reform. The Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Act framed his empowerment. self-sufficiency
breaking dependency cycles. A big shift in approach to
(21:38):
poverty. But the sources offer a very
sharp critique. They argue it gutted assistance
programs, imposed work requirements, and fed right wing
stereotypes of the undeserving poor.
They contend this reform normalized cruelty as policy,
preparing the cultural terrain for future authoritarian
austerity. By ending the federal guarantee
of cash aid, it drastically weakened the safety net.
(22:00):
And the moral framing was key. Yes, the focus on personal
responsibility, the sores argue,effectively demonized people
needing help, making it culturally OK to cut support.
It created fertile ground for future austerity policies, and
the Wave Insight captures this. The most effective propaganda
cloaks itself in compassion while stripping dignity and
silence. So policies causing harm
(22:20):
presented as kindness. Or as necessary moral steps,
subtly eroding support systems and public empathy while
appearing virtuous #tagged #tubby D The culture war
trapdoor. LGBTQ plus bait and switch.
What about Clinton and LGBTQ plus issues?
It seemed complicated. Courting voters, inviting gay
people to the White House, but then signing Don't Ask, Don't
(22:43):
Tell and the Defense of MarriageAct DOMA man.
Yeah, a real push and pull. Does the sources call this
politics of triangulation? They argue it left marginalized
communities exposed, offering symbolism without systemic
change. Triangulation meaning playing
both sides. Essentially offering symbolic
gestures to one group for support while enacting policies
(23:03):
that appease opponents, ultimately undermining the
rights of the first group. It neutralizes demands for real
change without actually delivering it.
And the wave insight here is about false hope.
False allies are part of the wave, too.
They teach you to hope just enough before letting the system
swallow you again. So warning against symbolic
gestures that mask in action. Exactly.
Pacifying a movement while the underlying problems persist or
(23:26):
even get worse, leaving communities vulnerable.
OK, so the overall picture of Clinton from these sources,
despite the Third Way rhetoric, they see him laying a foundation
for future authoritarianism, hardened inequality, more
surveillance, militarized borders, expanded corporate
rights. They call it a subtle surrender
dressed as moderation. A surrender to forces of control
(23:47):
masked as pragmatism. That's the core argument.
Which brings us to George W Bush.
His presidency, obviously defined in large part by 911,
marked with the sources call a decisive turn towards
securitization, surveillance andthe erosion of civil liberties.
It felt like everything changed.Absolutely, And central to the
analysis of this period is the idea that fear became the fuel
(24:09):
for a sweeping political machinethat justified unprecedented
powers. The trauma of 911, the sources
argue, was systematically used to push through policies that
drastically shifted the balance between security and freedom,
often with wide public backing. Hashtag tag, Hashtag tag a The
War on Terror Fear as a political weapon.
The War on Terror launched almost immediately, and it used
(24:30):
these really broad, vague definitions of enemies and
threats. It became this global US versus
them struggle. And the sources stress how this
rhetoric created a climate wheredissent was equated with
disloyalty and debate was silenced in the name of
security. Right.
Questioning things felt unpatriotic.
Exactly. When fear gets weaponized, the
space for critical discussion just shrinks dramatically.
(24:54):
Questioning policy could be framed as undermining unity or
helping the enemy. It became very hard to dissent.
The Wave Insight captures this perfectly.
When fear is weaponized, unity demands obedience, and questions
become treason. Chilling Using crisis to demand
conformity. That's the mechanism described,
leveraging a crisis to consolidate power by suppressing
(25:14):
any deviation from the official line.
Hashtag, hashtag tag, tag. Be the Patriot Act.
Legalizing surveillance. And the Patriot Act passed so
quickly, October 2001 presented as absolutely essential to stop
future attacks. But the sources breakdown it's
huge impact. It vastly expanded government
surveillance powers, lowered thebar for search and seizure, and
enabled secret detentions. It fundamentally rewrote the
(25:36):
rules of privacy and due process.
Can you give an example? Sure.
Section 215, for instance. It let the FBI get any tangible
things Business records, libraryrecords, Medical histories
without probable cause, often with gag orders preventing
disclosure or roving wiretaps targeting people, not just
specific phones. So a massive expansion of
(25:56):
government reach into private lives.
Unprecedented, really, often without people knowing.
Little oversight. It wasn't just tweaking things,
it was a foundational shift. And the sources warning is
stark. Laws written in shadows bind the
hands of justice and empower unchecked control.
Laws passed quickly, incredibly crisis become tools for control.
That's the danger highlighted. Limiting rights in the name of
(26:18):
the state. Hashtag Shire tag shack, tag C
Guantanamo and torture. The dark side of power.
And then Guantanamo Bay, opened early 2002, became this global
symbol of, well, extrajudicial detention and torture, holding
people indefinitely without trial.
It shocked a lot of people. Yeah, the sources point out that
at Guantanamo, legal norms were suspended, people held without
(26:39):
charge, subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques,
basically torture. And despite international
outcry, human rights groups domestic resistance was muted,
overwhelmed by that post 911 fear and security focus.
The climate allowed it to happen.
It seems so. It created an environment where
even serious human rights abusescould be justified or ignored by
(26:59):
many, which leads to this grim wave lesson.
The system teaches that some lies are expendable.
Dissenters must learn to accept it or disappear.
Basically signaling that certainpeople are outside protection
and warning others not to object.
A brutal logic creating a chilling effect on potential
resistance. Hashtag tag, tag, tag, tag D The
surveillance state. Eyes everywhere.
(27:21):
Beyond specific laws, it just felt like a huge expansion of
surveillance overall. Electronic monitoring, data
collection, intelligence sharing.
Yeah, often with minimal oversight.
Government eyes everywhere. And this built, the sources
argue, a vast apparatus that infiltrated everyday life,
chilling free expression and political activism.
Think about the NSA's warrantless wiretapping programs
(27:44):
later exposed just the sense that private communication
wasn't private anymore. That creates self censorship,
right? Exactly.
Even without direct repression, if you think you might be
watched, you're less likely to speak out.
Join certain groups, engage in activism.
It's a subtle but very effectiveform of control, and the wave
insight nails this. Control isn't always visible.
(28:06):
It is the quiet watcher behind every screen and microphone.
So control doesn't need to be forceful, just pervasive.
It's unseen presence can be justas powerful in shaping behavior.
Limiting freedom fundamentally changes the citizen state
relationship. So for George W Bush, the
sources see his presidency is showing how fear and patriotism
(28:27):
can be twisted into tools of authoritarian control,
shattering the liberty security balance.
They call it a dark crescendo ofthe wave.
Accelerating those trends towards a more powerful, less
accountable state. That's the picture painted.
Which brings us to Barack Obama,A presidency that absolutely
arrived on a wave of hope and renewal.
That slogan, Change We Can Believe in It resonated deeply,
(28:50):
felt like a real break was possible.
Huge optimism domestically and globally.
A sense of turning the page. Yeah.
But this is where the sources really focus on the central
tension of his time in office, they argue.
Yet beneath the rhetoric, many of the systems of control,
surveillance and military intervention remained firmly in
place. It points to a legacy that's
both inspiring and conflicted, Apresidency showing both the
(29:13):
power but also the real limits of trying to make change from
within these deeply entrenched systems.
The inertia of power structure. Exactly.
It forces you to confront that hashtag, hashtag, hashtag.
A hope and high expectations. The new wave begins.
I mean, his campaign was incredible, mobilized diverse
communities, embraced grassrootsenergy.
His message directly countered the fear politics offered this
(29:35):
vision of inclusion, diplomacy and reform.
People felt hopeful. Yeah, a powerful wave of hope,
but the sources offer a cautionary note here relevant to
any movement and to the waves dynamics.
Every wave of resistance needs vision, but visions can be Co
opted or deferred. Meaning the energy can get
absorbed by the system. Or just slowed down, redirected.
(29:57):
It analyzes the challenge of turning that grassroots hope
into real systemic change. When you hit the walls of
established institutions, the enthusiasm gets you elected.
Maybe. But the system itself can
constrain even the most transformative goals.
It can lead to that feeling of unfulfilled promise.
Hashtag, hashtag tag be Continuity and surveillance and
war. The unseen machine.
(30:18):
OK, so specific examples. Despite promises like closing
Guantanamo, ending endless wars,the sources say Obama actually
expanded drone strikes, continued mass surveillance
programs, prolonged the war on terrorist reach.
That seems like continuity. It does, and the sources argue
the administration's secrecy andexecutive power use revealed the
limits of change within entrenched systems.
(30:39):
Guantanamo, for instance. Efforts were made, but it never
closed. Blamed on political opposition.
Drone strikes expanded dramatically, often with little
transparency. So even a reform minded leader
felt constrained. That's the suggestion operating
within and limited by existing power frameworks, especially in
national security, where the state's capabilities had already
grown so much. The machine kept running.
(31:02):
And the wave insight reinforces this.
Systems built on control resist transformation.
Even the most hopeful leaders are constrained.
The sheer inertia of institution.
Immense inertia. They can absorb or deflect.
Even pushes for radical change. The invisible machinery proves
very resilient. Hashtag tag, tag tag CC.
Healthcare and the politics of compromise.
(31:23):
Progress and limits. Domestically though, the
Affordable Care Act? The ACA huge achievement
expanded healthcare to millions,a clear example of trying to
make systemic reform work. Undeniably significant, but the
sources also point out how it reflected political compromise,
how fierce opposition and political calculation shaped the
final law, leaving many advocates wanting more.
(31:43):
Like the public option being dropped.
Exactly. While it expanded coverage
significantly, it kept the private insurance system faced
intense battles that watered down some original goals.
It shows the difficulty of big reform in a polarized system
with powerful corporate interests.
So progress, but limited by compromise.
Right, which leads to the wave insight.
(32:04):
Reform within the system often means settling for less than
justice demands. Even when you make progress, the
compromises needed can dilute the vision.
Leave underlying issues only partly fixed.
Maybe leave some people still vulnerable.
Hashtag tag, tag, tag, TD, Race,protest and policing.
The challenge of reckoning. Obama's presidency also saw the
rise of Black Lives Matter, hugecalls for racial justice,
(32:26):
focusing on policing inequality.Even with the black president,
these issues were incredibly prominent.
And the sources note that despite his historic presidency,
progress was uneven and systemic.
Racism in policing and inequal equality persisted.
They analyzed this tension between leadership and
grassroots movements demanding faster, deeper change.
(32:46):
There was discussion initiativeslike My Brother's Keeper, but
fundamental shifts in police accountability or economic
inequality were really hard to achieve.
Symbolic leadership versus systemic change.
That's the tension explored, suggesting that even
well-intentioned policies couldn't fully overcome these
deeply rooted systemic problems.Which brings us to this wave
(33:06):
insight. Resistance is often louder than
leaders, and that noise can either propel or unsettle those
in power. Highlighting the power of
grassroots movements. Yes, showing how activism from
below is critical in pushing forchange, sometimes forcing
leaders to confront things they might prefer to manage more
slowly. It reveals the limits of change
coming only from the top. So, wrapping up Obama, the
(33:28):
sources offer this really complex view, a legacy,
inspiring and conflicted, showing both the power and the
limits of change from within, even with hope that underlying
machinery of control built over decades was incredibly hard to
fundamentally change. A sobering assessment of the
resilience of established systems, even against a tide of
optimism. Hashtags, tags, hashtags, tags
(33:50):
is Apple synthesis and the continuing wave.
So if we pull all 5 presidenciestogether now, Reagan through
Obama, the big picture from these educate resistance sources
is this idea of a continuous evolving wave, a drift towards
authoritarianism, a hardening ofcontrol mechanisms happening
across different administrations.
It's not seen as separate events, but this cumulative
(34:11):
process, each presidency maybe intentionally, maybe not
contributed in some way according to this view.
And they stress the different shapes this takes.
It's not always Jack boots and uniforms.
It's economic deregulation creating inequality.
It's culture wars dividing society.
It's mass incarceration hitting student communities.
It's the quiet spread of surveillance.
It's the normalization of executive power.
(34:31):
It's multi facet. Exactly.
A slow, systemic tightening of control that doesn't always look
like classic tyranny. Which loops back perfectly to
that wave theme, right? How even things that seem good
or pragmatic or necessary can end up contributing to this
system of control, and often notby force, but with our sort of
consent, or maybe just without us fully realizing it.
(34:54):
It's subtle, insidious almost. Makes it hard to see in real
time. It's less about blaming specific
people, maybe, and more about understanding these larger
systemic forces at play. Yeah.
Which raises that crucial question the sources leave us
with How do we stay vigilant? How do we stay active when the
control mechanisms are subtle, when they're wrapped in
comforting language or framed asessential for safety or
(35:15):
prosperity? How do we see past the surface?
Right. Scrutinize the mechanisms of
power, not just the personalities or the stated
goals. Because as the way it suggests
complacency and accepting narratives without question,
that's what allows these trends to continue.
Hashtag tag tag tag outro. Wow, OK, that was definitely a
deep dive. The insights here, especially
(35:36):
drawing from the truth and mythology of America's President
series, feel incredibly important.
Understanding these patterns, how control mechanisms have
evolved, persisted. It seems vital for anyone trying
to make sense of the world today, recognizing the currents
shaping things. Absolutely, and we really hope
you'll reflect on these historical shifts, what they
might mean for democratic societies, thinking critically
(35:58):
about power narratives. It's not a one off task, right?
It's ongoing needs, constant engagement, vigilance.
The the sources really imply that our awareness is maybe our
best defense. Totally agree, and it's not just
about thinking, it's about engaging.
We really encourage you talk about these ideas with friends,
family, in your community online.
Share what you're learning. These conversations deepen
(36:21):
understanding, build collective awareness.
Active engagement is key to shaping the future we want, not
just accepting one handed down. Yeah, echoing that spirit from
Educate Resistance and the Lessons of the Wave.
Awareness and collective action,especially decentralized action,
seem crucial for preserving freedom.
We definitely encourage exploring how you can strengthen
(36:42):
democratic principles where you are.
The sources recommend checking out resources like those found
on a einstein.org, specifically Gene Sharp's book From
Dictatorship to Democracy. Right, that offers insights into
nonviolent resistance. Exactly how movements for
freedom can start and sustain themselves.
It's about considering how to build local decentralized
resistance. Follow principles of non
(37:04):
nonviolent action to counter authoritarian trends.
Taking action to build the worldyou want to see.
So as we close out, maybe one last question to ponder.
What structures, norms or narratives around us today might
be silently shaping the next wave of change?
And how can we use these historical insights to
understand them and hopefully guide them towards the future we
actually choose? And hey, if you found this Deep
(37:26):
dive useful, please do us a solid like share and subscribe
to the Deep Dive. It really helps us keep these
conversations going and reach more people.
Help us get these critical discussions out there.
Thanks for diving deep with us today.
We've seen the tide turn before,from liberty to fear, from truth
to control. But this is not the end.
This is our call to stand, to rise, to rebuild.
(37:47):
Because democracy is not a gift,it's a choice.
Every day in shiles cast by tyrants hand where truth was
drowned beneath the sand, We heard the cry from far and wide,
a silent scream. The stars get high from
Epstein's dark unsealed decay tobump it.
Laws that strip away the mask has slipped, the right exposed
(38:09):
the halls of power now deposed. But through the noise, a spark
remained, A voice not thought, not bent, Unchained.
A cannon dig, not born from gold, but fire.
Just as stories to run the. Ashes we rise like the dawn
breaking lies with the wave. As our guide we reclaim what
survived, not just for one, but for all.
(38:32):
We the people here, the culture of the world, we unite, but we
born in the light. Before cries ringing out afar to
blood red lines in Kandahar, authoritarians fed the flame,
but millions rose and spoke our name.
The firewall built from every voice.
Survivors made the noblest choice to leave, to speak, to
(38:55):
build a new a global dream long overdue.
The truth. They feared, we now declare.
The world's not theirs. We all must care.
From cave to Flint, from Gaza shore.
No whelms peace anymore from. The ashes we rise, It's like the
dawn breaking lies with the wave.
There's our guide. We reclaim and survive not just
(39:17):
for one life for all we the people here, the call to the
wall, we unite or we born in thelight and.
About left or right, It's about right and wrong.
(39:39):
The wave taught us how it happened, slowly, suddenly, and
all at once. But we've learned, we've seen,
and we've chosen. Never again.
From the ashes we rise no more heart, for more lies.
With the will in our stride, we ignite the world wide tide.
A new. Leader Fortune Flay not.
(40:02):
For power, for the name of everyvoice that.
Dares to fight Gobri. Born in the light, we have a
fire. We are the wave, and this time
we choose the light. We are the wave, and this time
(40:33):
we choose the light. We've learned, we've seen, and
(41:16):
we've chosen ever again. From the ashes we rise.
No more hate, no more lies with the wave.
Taught us how it happens slowly,subtly, than all at once.
But we've learned, we've seen, and we've chosen.
Never again.
We've seen the tide turn before,from liberty to fear, from truth
to control. But this is not the end.
This is our call to stand the rise to rebuild.
Because democracy is not a gift,it's a choice.
Every day, in child's gas by tyrant's hand, where truth was
drowned beneath the sand, We heard the cry from far and wide,
(00:21):
a silent scream. The stars get high from
Epstein's dark unsealed decay tobump it.
Laws that strip away the mask has slipped, the right exposed,
the halls of power now deposed. But through the noise a spark
remained. A voice not bought, not bent,
Unchained. A Cam and date not borne from
gold but fire. Justice stories to run.
(00:43):
The ashes we rise like the dawn breaking lies with the wave as
our guide we reclaim what survived, not just for one, but
for all. We the people here, the culture
of the wall, we unite, but we born in the light.
From 4 cries ringing out afar toblood red lines in Kandahar.
(01:05):
Authoritarians fed the flame, but millions rose and spoke our
name. The firewall built from every
voice. Survivors made the noblest
choice to lead, to speak, to build a new.
A global dream long overdue. The truth.
They feared, we now declare. The world's not theirs.
We all must care. From cave to Flint, from Gaza
(01:26):
shore. No realms.
Peace anymore. From the ashes we rise.
It's like the dawn breaking lieswith the wave.
There's our guide. We.
Reclaim what? Survive, not just.
For one life for all we the people here, the call to the
wall, we unite or we born in thelight and.
(01:58):
About left to right. It's about right and wrong.
The wave taught us how it happened, slowly, subtly, and
all at once. But we've learned, we've seen,
and we've chosen. Never again.
From the ashes we rise no more heart, for more lies with the
weather within our stride we unite the world wide tie a new
(02:21):
leader, Fortune flay. Not for power.
For the name of every voice that.
Dares to fight. Gobri, born in the light, we
have a fire. We are the wave, and this time
we choose the light. We are the wave, and this time
(02:55):
we choose the light. We've learned, we've seen, and
(03:37):
we've chosen. Never again.
From the ashes we arise. No more hate, no more lies with
the wave. Taught us how it happens slowly,
subtly, than all at once. But we've learned, we've seen,
and we've chosen. Never again.
(04:00):
Welcome back to the Deep Dive. We're the place you come to cut
through all the noise and reallyget to the heart of what
matters. Our mission, like always, is
simple. Take complex stuff, break it
down and pull out those key insights so you can get informed
fast. Today we are jumping into
something. Well, it's pretty heavy.
It's complex, definitely relevant.
We're looking at how the United States over several presidencies
(04:21):
seems to have shifted, maybe slowly, maybe subtly towards
systems that, well, our sources say resemble or even enable
authoritarian control. Serious topic requires some
thought, but honestly, we think it's vital for understanding
where things are today. Our material for this deep dive
is from Educate Resistance, specifically parts 42 to 46 of
their series, The Truth and Mythology of America's
(04:43):
Presidents. Now, these sources, they offer a
particular way of looking at recent U.S. history, kind of
asking us to look beyond the usual stories and as we can get
ready to unpack this kind of makes you think about, you know,
collective spirit, shared ideals.
Think about how sometimes a song, maybe one that's motivated
but also educational and just bring people together, all kinds
of people to stand up for freedom, liberty, equality,
(05:06):
especially when democracy feels threatened.
That spirit, that vigilance, makes you wonder, how did those
ideals hold up when the actual structures of power seem to be,
well, shifting? That's exactly the core
question, isn't it? And that's our mission.
Today. We're going to unpack the
arguments, the evidence laid outin these five parts.
We'll look at each administration, starting with
Reagan going through to Obama, and see how they, according to
(05:28):
the sources, contributed to or maybe just wrestled with things
like expanding state power, growing economic gaps, deeper
social divisions. And often the sources claim this
happened under the banner of, say, progress or national
security, which is kind of ironic.
Our goal isn't to say the sources are right or wrong.
It's to understand the mechanisms they describe, to
(05:49):
analyze them impartially, just grasp the framework they're
presenting. And there's this recurring idea,
this analytical tool they use throughout, which is really key.
It's drawn from that 1981 film The Wave.
Oh right, the 1 based on the classroom experiment.
Exactly. It's powerful, shows how a
movement, even starting with good intentions, you know,
discipline, community can slide into submission, blind
(06:09):
obedience, unchecked power. It's chilling, really.
Yeah, lots of individuality. Precisely.
And this film, this wave idea, serves as a lens for for the
sources as they look at each presidency.
It helps understand these subtleshifts in power, how they echo
the film's lessons about group dynamics, control, and while
losing freedom without always realizing it.
(06:31):
Like a potent metaphor, All right sets a particular tone.
It really does. It helps frame these complex
historical shifts in a relatable, if unsettling way.
OK, let's dive in then. Ronald Reagan.
The sources kick things off witha pretty bold statement.
They call him a Hollywood actor who mastered the art of
illusion. What exactly are they getting at
there? How does that frame his
(06:51):
presidency? It's a really provocative
starting point. They're basically arguing his
presidency was more than just policy.
It was, in a way, a performance crafted to change how people saw
things, their ideology. His acting background, they
suggest, gave him this unique skill to sell a narrative, a
vision, a vision that maybe often hid more complicated
truths. Like that famous line?
Right. Government is not the solution.
(07:14):
Government is the problem. Hugely powerful message.
Lots of people embraced it. But the sources argue this
rhetoric, while sounding like itwas about individual freedom,
you know, less bureaucracy, it actually started undermining
democratic equality by sort of demonizing the government
itself. It laid the groundwork for some
really radical changes. It definitely resonated after
(07:35):
the feeling of malaise in the 70s Hashtag hashtag May the
morning in America Mirage selling a myth.
And that performance aspect, wow.
His promise to bring back pride after Vietnam, Watergate, the
economic slump. It really connected that 1984
Morning in America ad pure optimism.
It felt like sunrise renewal. You can see why the emotional
(07:56):
appeal was just massive. A fresh start.
And that's exactly where the source steps in with a counter
narrative. They say yes, powerful image
that sunrise, but it masked deepening inequality and the
start of a rightward transformation that would to
find government itself. So the feel good story, the
recovery narrative, it potentially obscured these
deeper structural shifts happening underneath.
And this links back to the wave idea right?
(08:17):
Using charisma using these emotionally powerful stories.
The sources stated bluntly, Charisma is a weapon used to
mask real damage with emotional comfortable.
Weapon. Yeah, it suggests a leader's
charm and appealing simple story.
It can effectively hide significant, maybe even damaging
changes in power dynamics or societal well-being.
(08:38):
You get drawn in by the comfort,maybe don't quite see the deeper
shifts. OK, so the image versus the
reality according to the source,hashtag tag, tag, tag, tag, be
trickle down and the authoritarian market power
through deregulation. OK, Beyond the image,
Reaganomics, that was a huge policy shift, big tax cuts,
especially for the wealthy, hitting labor protections hard,
(08:59):
deregulating whole industries. And it was all built on this
trickle down idea, right? That benefits up top would
eventually flow down. It was a bold move.
What do the sources say happened?
Well, the sources argue the results were pretty different
from the promise. They point to things like
exploding inequality, the rise of the corporate elite, and a
surveillance police state to contain unrest.
Wait. A surveillance police state?
(09:20):
How does that connect to economic policy?
That's a key link the sources make.
They argue that these specific economic policies, the
deregulation, the tax cuts for the rich, they didn't lead to
less state control, paradoxically, but potentially
more. The idea is deregulation
concentrated wealth and power. Corporate influence grew.
Then, as inequality got worse and safety Nets weakened, the
(09:43):
potential for social unrest wentup.
OK, so to manage that unrest without fixing the economic
causes, the state often boosts policing and surveillance.
So economic policy becomes, in effect, a tool for broader
social control. That's quite a claim.
It is, and they have this reallysharp insight related to the
wave. Economic authoritarianism
(10:03):
doesn't always wear uniform. Sometimes it comes in a suit
with a smile, promising you freedom as it sells your future.
Chilling so control through economics looking benign.
Exactly, promising freedom, but maybe limiting opportunity for
many and consolidating power fora few.
Hashtag tag, tag tag tag. See Enemies and Empires, the
Cold War script. Then there's the Cold War.
Reagan really dialed that up, calling the USSR the evil
(10:26):
empire, pouring money into the military buildup and the sources
mentioned support for brutal anti communist regimes and
militias from Central America toAfghanistan, often secretly.
It created a very clear enemy. Rally people.
Right. And what the sources find
concerning here is how they connect this Cold War focus to
(10:48):
democratic accountability. Back home.
They use Iran Contra as a prime example.
It showed a government willing to break laws and lie to the
people so long as it played wellon television.
So the ends justified the means essentially.
That's the implication that the law transparency became less
important than public image and the national security narrative,
the sources say. Propaganda isn't just about
censorship, it's about distraction.
(11:10):
Reagan's real genius was in turning complex corruption into
simple patriotism. So focus on the external threat
to distract from internal issues.
That's the argument. Classic wave technique really.
Create a clear enemy. Foster loyalty.
Sideline uncomfortable questions.
Hashtag tag, tag, tag tag tag. Santing D The culture war
begins. Faith, fear, and the family.
And then there's the culture aspect, the rise of the Moral
(11:32):
Majority, the Christian right. The sources mention the seeds of
the 7 Mountain mandate. Suddenly, LGBTQ plus people,
feminists, civil rights activists, they're positioned as
villains in a growing culture war.
It felt like new dividing lines were being drawn.
Yeah, and the sources argue thiswasn't just about policy
differences. It was about turning neighbor
(11:53):
against neighbor, replacing civic duty with tribal fear.
A real fragmentation. National identity starts getting
tied up with specific cultural religious values, often by
explicitly excluding others. That 7 mountain mandate, yeah.
What is that exactly? It's a belief held by some
Christian conservatives that they're called to influence
seven key areas of society, government, education, media,
(12:16):
arts, business, family and religion.
The sources suggest this thinking really gained ground
under Reagan, subtly changing civic discourse.
Wow. And this ties into another
really unsettling wave. Insight from the sources.
Authoritarianism doesn't arrive through tanks.
It enters through pulpits, talk shows and school boards.
So it creeps in through culture,through institutions we trust.
(12:36):
That's the idea. It seeps into the places that
shape our values, our beliefs, making it feel almost normal,
not imposed, redefining how power asserts itself subtly.
So pulling it all together for Reagan, the sources see his
legacy as the normalization of anew kind of American
authoritarianism. 1 blending faith, finance and fantasy,
(12:59):
turning democracy into a performance.
It's a stark view. It is a significant
reinterpretation of a very transformative time.
OK, moving on from Reagan, we get to George HW Bush.
He comes in talking about a new world order.
The Berlin Wall had just fallen.The Soviet Union was dissolving.
It felt like a huge moment of global optimism.
Right. A chance for real international
cooperation? Maybe.
(13:20):
But the sources immediately throw some cold water on that.
They ask Was it really cooperation, or more like the
illusion of American triumph masking deeper cracks at home
and abroad? They suggest that maybe the
victory narrative kind of hid the fact that many underlying
issues were continuing and certain power structures were
quietly expanding. Hashtag tag, tag, tag tag A The
(13:42):
Cold War ends, The illusion begins.
Managing decline in a victory parade.
I mean, the Cold War ending peacefully, that was huge.
And all the talk about a peace dividend redirecting military
spending to domestic needs, schools, infrastructure seemed
like a real chance. But according to the sources,
that peace dividend never came for ordinary Americans.
That's their claim. Instead, they argue, at the
(14:04):
foundations of neoliberal globalization were quietly
cemented, with corporate gains prioritized over public good.
So a continuation, even an acceleration of trends from the
Reagan era. Even with the Cold War over.
Apparently so. According to this analysis, the
focus stayed on policies benefiting corporations,
finance, not necessarily a broaduplift which leads to this way
of insight. Illusions of victory are the
(14:26):
most dangerous. They blind people to their own
unraveling. So the celebration masked
internal problems. That's the suggestion.
The focus on winning distracted from maybe addressing domestic
needs or questioning the direction of globalization.
Hashtag tag Tag Tag B Desert Storm and the spectacle of war
violence, says political theater.
(14:46):
Then 1991 Operation Desert Storm.
It was presented as this quick, clean, limited moral response to
a rock invading Kuwait. Very.
That played out on TV like, well, like a show.
And that idea of spectacle is exactly what the sources focus
on here. They argue Desert Storm
reintroduced militarism as spectacle with tightly
controlled media and a silenced anti war movement.
(15:08):
Controlled media. Yeah, they suggest, the war
became this Managed narrative, sanitized news, curated
reporting, not much room for alternative views.
It was political theater, they argue.
And crucially, they say this cast the long shadow of a rock,
setting precedence for later interventions.
And the wave connection. It's pretty stark.
Authoritarian systems turn war into narrative and the truth
into classified footnotes. So simplifying conflict, hiding
(15:34):
the messy reality. Exactly Fitting it into an
approved story. Burying inconvenient facts under
patriotism and secrecy. Hashtag tag, hashtag, hashtag.
See the American family values mask.
Turning decency into division. Bush also really leaned into
that family values language fromthe religious right, didn't he?
It felt like a continuation of the culture wars from Reagan.
(15:55):
Things like vetoing LGBTQ plus civil rights protections and
that really infamous Willie Horton ad in the 88 campaign
using race and fear under this banner of morality.
And the sources argued these actions weaponized morality to
divide and distract. By framing certain groups or
policies as threats to family values, they suggest the
administration deepen ideological divides.
(16:17):
It distracted from other issues,maybe economic ones, and shored
up support from a specific base.Turning political differences
into moral failings right makes compromise harder, tribalism
easier, which connects to this pointed wave insight.
Respectability politics can be authoritarian too.
How so? It suggests that appeals to
decency or values, even if they sound good, can be used to
stigmatize, exclude and control certain groups.
(16:39):
It's a subtle way to marginalized dissent without
appearing overtly aggressive. Hashtag tag Hashtag tag tag D
From CIA to commander in chief. The deep state in the open.
And Bush's background is pretty unique.
CIA director, UN ambassador, VP deeply involved in national
security intelligence. Yeah, and the sources connect
(16:59):
this to what they see as the quiet expansion of surveillance
infrastructure, the DEA's militarization and growing
intelligence budgets, all under the banner of competence.
So the deep state idea comes up.Well, not necessarily as a
conspiracy, but more about the steady growth of these non
elected national security bureaucracies.
They operate with less public scrutiny, expanding their power
(17:20):
across administrations, often justified by expertise.
Bush's background, while seen bymany as experience, is
interpreted by the sources as consolidating this kind of
power. They describe it, chillingly as
competence without conscience. Competence without conscience.
Yeah, and the related wave insight is unsettling sometimes.
Authoritarianism doesn't look like chaos.
It looks like competence withoutconscience.
(17:42):
Meaning control can be efficient, bureaucratic, almost
invisible. Exactly.
Highly organized systems that look professional, benign, but
quietly expand their reach. A very different picture of how
control might work. So, summarizing the sources on
GHW Bush, beneath the Polish thepromise of order, they argue he
helped lay the groundwork for the permanent war economy, the
(18:04):
global neoliberal order, and themoral theater of culture wars.
A quiet solidification. A quiet but significant
continuation and cementing of these trends, according to this
analysis. All right, let's move into the
Bill Clinton years. This was the era of promising a
third way, right, Something beyond left and right.
Pragmatism, unity. But the sources immediately pose
a challenge. Was it pragmatism, or maybe
(18:26):
capitulation to existing powers?Was it unity or more like
silencing of dissent? They definitely set up that
tension right away. The core argument is that
Clintons presidency fast trackedcorporate globalization, mass
incarceration, and bipartisan neoliberalism.
They frame it as what seemed pragmatic was often giving in to
corporate interests. What sounded like unity actually
(18:49):
meant marginalizing voices from labor, environmental groups,
civil rights advocates who wanted more fundamental change.
So challenging the progressive narrative of his president.
Very much so. Hashtag check.
Tech tech Tech Tayda. The globalization trap.
NAFTA and the Border. Moron.
OK NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement 1994.
Huge deal promoted as a win for everyone, workers, businesses.
(19:10):
Hemiseric Partnership looked very forward thinking.
But the sources paint a really different picture.
Focusing on the consequences, they argue that for millions in
Mexico, Central America, some USworking communities, NAFTA meant
economic dislocation, labor exploitation and a surge in
migration. How did migration connect?
Well the argument is free movement of goods but not people
(19:31):
as say Mexican farmers couldn't compete with subsidized US
imports, many were displaced andmoved N This then led to the US
increasing border enforcement, building walls, militarizing the
border. So policies promising benefits
had specific negative impacts, leading directly to more state
control over movement. Or chain reaction basically.
(19:51):
Site here is pretty potent. The system says we open the door
for you, but it only leads to a trap it designed.
Suggesting these big opportunities can actually be
trapped. For some, yes.
Mechanisms leading to disempowerment, economic
coercion and then physical containment.
That's the sources interpretation.
Hashtag tag, tag tag tag tag B Crime bills and chains.
(20:12):
Mass incarceration by design. Then there's the 1994 crime
bill, another huge piece of legislation.
Clinton championed it. Bipartisan support presented as
the the answer to rising crime. The sources analyze its impact
as profound and lasting. They say it expanded police
forces built prisons and imposedmandatory minimums.
(20:33):
The result, they argue, was entire generations, especially
Black and brown communities, criminalized under a bipartisan
banner of law and order. Billions for prisons. 100,000
New police expanded death penalty, tougher drug sentences.
It was a massive expansion of the justice system.
Absolutely, and the sources makethis critical claim.
(20:53):
The carceral wave didn't begin with Trump.
It's swelled under Clinton, pointing to a bipartisan embrace
of policies that massively grew the prison system.
And the wave connection here. It's about the subtlety.
The machine doesn't always roar.Sometimes it hums in policy
papers and smiles on the campaign trail.
Meaning oppressive systems can advance quietly.
Yeah, through seemingly normal legislative processes packaged
(21:15):
appealingly with bipartisan agreement, not necessarily
through overt force. The humming let's the control
machinery expand almost unnoticed.
Hashtag tag, hashtag Tech C Welfare reform in the moral
frame. From safety net to noose. 1996
welfare reform. The Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Act framed his empowerment. self-sufficiency
breaking dependency cycles. A big shift in approach to
(21:38):
poverty. But the sources offer a very
sharp critique. They argue it gutted assistance
programs, imposed work requirements, and fed right wing
stereotypes of the undeserving poor.
They contend this reform normalized cruelty as policy,
preparing the cultural terrain for future authoritarian
austerity. By ending the federal guarantee
of cash aid, it drastically weakened the safety net.
(22:00):
And the moral framing was key. Yes, the focus on personal
responsibility, the sores argue,effectively demonized people
needing help, making it culturally OK to cut support.
It created fertile ground for future austerity policies, and
the Wave Insight captures this. The most effective propaganda
cloaks itself in compassion while stripping dignity and
silence. So policies causing harm
(22:20):
presented as kindness. Or as necessary moral steps,
subtly eroding support systems and public empathy while
appearing virtuous #tagged #tubby D The culture war
trapdoor. LGBTQ plus bait and switch.
What about Clinton and LGBTQ plus issues?
It seemed complicated. Courting voters, inviting gay
people to the White House, but then signing Don't Ask, Don't
(22:43):
Tell and the Defense of MarriageAct DOMA man.
Yeah, a real push and pull. Does the sources call this
politics of triangulation? They argue it left marginalized
communities exposed, offering symbolism without systemic
change. Triangulation meaning playing
both sides. Essentially offering symbolic
gestures to one group for support while enacting policies
(23:03):
that appease opponents, ultimately undermining the
rights of the first group. It neutralizes demands for real
change without actually delivering it.
And the wave insight here is about false hope.
False allies are part of the wave, too.
They teach you to hope just enough before letting the system
swallow you again. So warning against symbolic
gestures that mask in action. Exactly.
Pacifying a movement while the underlying problems persist or
(23:26):
even get worse, leaving communities vulnerable.
OK, so the overall picture of Clinton from these sources,
despite the Third Way rhetoric, they see him laying a foundation
for future authoritarianism, hardened inequality, more
surveillance, militarized borders, expanded corporate
rights. They call it a subtle surrender
dressed as moderation. A surrender to forces of control
(23:47):
masked as pragmatism. That's the core argument.
Which brings us to George W Bush.
His presidency, obviously defined in large part by 911,
marked with the sources call a decisive turn towards
securitization, surveillance andthe erosion of civil liberties.
It felt like everything changed.Absolutely, And central to the
analysis of this period is the idea that fear became the fuel
(24:09):
for a sweeping political machinethat justified unprecedented
powers. The trauma of 911, the sources
argue, was systematically used to push through policies that
drastically shifted the balance between security and freedom,
often with wide public backing. Hashtag tag, Hashtag tag a The
War on Terror Fear as a political weapon.
The War on Terror launched almost immediately, and it used
(24:30):
these really broad, vague definitions of enemies and
threats. It became this global US versus
them struggle. And the sources stress how this
rhetoric created a climate wheredissent was equated with
disloyalty and debate was silenced in the name of
security. Right.
Questioning things felt unpatriotic.
Exactly. When fear gets weaponized, the
space for critical discussion just shrinks dramatically.
(24:54):
Questioning policy could be framed as undermining unity or
helping the enemy. It became very hard to dissent.
The Wave Insight captures this perfectly.
When fear is weaponized, unity demands obedience, and questions
become treason. Chilling Using crisis to demand
conformity. That's the mechanism described,
leveraging a crisis to consolidate power by suppressing
(25:14):
any deviation from the official line.
Hashtag, hashtag tag, tag. Be the Patriot Act.
Legalizing surveillance. And the Patriot Act passed so
quickly, October 2001 presented as absolutely essential to stop
future attacks. But the sources breakdown it's
huge impact. It vastly expanded government
surveillance powers, lowered thebar for search and seizure, and
enabled secret detentions. It fundamentally rewrote the
(25:36):
rules of privacy and due process.
Can you give an example? Sure.
Section 215, for instance. It let the FBI get any tangible
things Business records, libraryrecords, Medical histories
without probable cause, often with gag orders preventing
disclosure or roving wiretaps targeting people, not just
specific phones. So a massive expansion of
(25:56):
government reach into private lives.
Unprecedented, really, often without people knowing.
Little oversight. It wasn't just tweaking things,
it was a foundational shift. And the sources warning is
stark. Laws written in shadows bind the
hands of justice and empower unchecked control.
Laws passed quickly, incredibly crisis become tools for control.
That's the danger highlighted. Limiting rights in the name of
(26:18):
the state. Hashtag Shire tag shack, tag C
Guantanamo and torture. The dark side of power.
And then Guantanamo Bay, opened early 2002, became this global
symbol of, well, extrajudicial detention and torture, holding
people indefinitely without trial.
It shocked a lot of people. Yeah, the sources point out that
at Guantanamo, legal norms were suspended, people held without
(26:39):
charge, subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques,
basically torture. And despite international
outcry, human rights groups domestic resistance was muted,
overwhelmed by that post 911 fear and security focus.
The climate allowed it to happen.
It seems so. It created an environment where
even serious human rights abusescould be justified or ignored by
(26:59):
many, which leads to this grim wave lesson.
The system teaches that some lies are expendable.
Dissenters must learn to accept it or disappear.
Basically signaling that certainpeople are outside protection
and warning others not to object.
A brutal logic creating a chilling effect on potential
resistance. Hashtag tag, tag, tag, tag D The
surveillance state. Eyes everywhere.
(27:21):
Beyond specific laws, it just felt like a huge expansion of
surveillance overall. Electronic monitoring, data
collection, intelligence sharing.
Yeah, often with minimal oversight.
Government eyes everywhere. And this built, the sources
argue, a vast apparatus that infiltrated everyday life,
chilling free expression and political activism.
Think about the NSA's warrantless wiretapping programs
(27:44):
later exposed just the sense that private communication
wasn't private anymore. That creates self censorship,
right? Exactly.
Even without direct repression, if you think you might be
watched, you're less likely to speak out.
Join certain groups, engage in activism.
It's a subtle but very effectiveform of control, and the wave
insight nails this. Control isn't always visible.
(28:06):
It is the quiet watcher behind every screen and microphone.
So control doesn't need to be forceful, just pervasive.
It's unseen presence can be justas powerful in shaping behavior.
Limiting freedom fundamentally changes the citizen state
relationship. So for George W Bush, the
sources see his presidency is showing how fear and patriotism
(28:27):
can be twisted into tools of authoritarian control,
shattering the liberty security balance.
They call it a dark crescendo ofthe wave.
Accelerating those trends towards a more powerful, less
accountable state. That's the picture painted.
Which brings us to Barack Obama,A presidency that absolutely
arrived on a wave of hope and renewal.
That slogan, Change We Can Believe in It resonated deeply,
(28:50):
felt like a real break was possible.
Huge optimism domestically and globally.
A sense of turning the page. Yeah.
But this is where the sources really focus on the central
tension of his time in office, they argue.
Yet beneath the rhetoric, many of the systems of control,
surveillance and military intervention remained firmly in
place. It points to a legacy that's
both inspiring and conflicted, Apresidency showing both the
(29:13):
power but also the real limits of trying to make change from
within these deeply entrenched systems.
The inertia of power structure. Exactly.
It forces you to confront that hashtag, hashtag, hashtag.
A hope and high expectations. The new wave begins.
I mean, his campaign was incredible, mobilized diverse
communities, embraced grassrootsenergy.
His message directly countered the fear politics offered this
(29:35):
vision of inclusion, diplomacy and reform.
People felt hopeful. Yeah, a powerful wave of hope,
but the sources offer a cautionary note here relevant to
any movement and to the waves dynamics.
Every wave of resistance needs vision, but visions can be Co
opted or deferred. Meaning the energy can get
absorbed by the system. Or just slowed down, redirected.
(29:57):
It analyzes the challenge of turning that grassroots hope
into real systemic change. When you hit the walls of
established institutions, the enthusiasm gets you elected.
Maybe. But the system itself can
constrain even the most transformative goals.
It can lead to that feeling of unfulfilled promise.
Hashtag, hashtag tag be Continuity and surveillance and
war. The unseen machine.
(30:18):
OK, so specific examples. Despite promises like closing
Guantanamo, ending endless wars,the sources say Obama actually
expanded drone strikes, continued mass surveillance
programs, prolonged the war on terrorist reach.
That seems like continuity. It does, and the sources argue
the administration's secrecy andexecutive power use revealed the
limits of change within entrenched systems.
(30:39):
Guantanamo, for instance. Efforts were made, but it never
closed. Blamed on political opposition.
Drone strikes expanded dramatically, often with little
transparency. So even a reform minded leader
felt constrained. That's the suggestion operating
within and limited by existing power frameworks, especially in
national security, where the state's capabilities had already
grown so much. The machine kept running.
(31:02):
And the wave insight reinforces this.
Systems built on control resist transformation.
Even the most hopeful leaders are constrained.
The sheer inertia of institution.
Immense inertia. They can absorb or deflect.
Even pushes for radical change. The invisible machinery proves
very resilient. Hashtag tag, tag tag CC.
Healthcare and the politics of compromise.
(31:23):
Progress and limits. Domestically though, the
Affordable Care Act? The ACA huge achievement
expanded healthcare to millions,a clear example of trying to
make systemic reform work. Undeniably significant, but the
sources also point out how it reflected political compromise,
how fierce opposition and political calculation shaped the
final law, leaving many advocates wanting more.
(31:43):
Like the public option being dropped.
Exactly. While it expanded coverage
significantly, it kept the private insurance system faced
intense battles that watered down some original goals.
It shows the difficulty of big reform in a polarized system
with powerful corporate interests.
So progress, but limited by compromise.
Right, which leads to the wave insight.
(32:04):
Reform within the system often means settling for less than
justice demands. Even when you make progress, the
compromises needed can dilute the vision.
Leave underlying issues only partly fixed.
Maybe leave some people still vulnerable.
Hashtag tag, tag, tag, TD, Race,protest and policing.
The challenge of reckoning. Obama's presidency also saw the
rise of Black Lives Matter, hugecalls for racial justice,
(32:26):
focusing on policing inequality.Even with the black president,
these issues were incredibly prominent.
And the sources note that despite his historic presidency,
progress was uneven and systemic.
Racism in policing and inequal equality persisted.
They analyzed this tension between leadership and
grassroots movements demanding faster, deeper change.
(32:46):
There was discussion initiativeslike My Brother's Keeper, but
fundamental shifts in police accountability or economic
inequality were really hard to achieve.
Symbolic leadership versus systemic change.
That's the tension explored, suggesting that even
well-intentioned policies couldn't fully overcome these
deeply rooted systemic problems.Which brings us to this wave
(33:06):
insight. Resistance is often louder than
leaders, and that noise can either propel or unsettle those
in power. Highlighting the power of
grassroots movements. Yes, showing how activism from
below is critical in pushing forchange, sometimes forcing
leaders to confront things they might prefer to manage more
slowly. It reveals the limits of change
coming only from the top. So, wrapping up Obama, the
(33:28):
sources offer this really complex view, a legacy,
inspiring and conflicted, showing both the power and the
limits of change from within, even with hope that underlying
machinery of control built over decades was incredibly hard to
fundamentally change. A sobering assessment of the
resilience of established systems, even against a tide of
optimism. Hashtags, tags, hashtags, tags
(33:50):
is Apple synthesis and the continuing wave.
So if we pull all 5 presidenciestogether now, Reagan through
Obama, the big picture from these educate resistance sources
is this idea of a continuous evolving wave, a drift towards
authoritarianism, a hardening ofcontrol mechanisms happening
across different administrations.
It's not seen as separate events, but this cumulative
(34:11):
process, each presidency maybe intentionally, maybe not
contributed in some way according to this view.
And they stress the different shapes this takes.
It's not always Jack boots and uniforms.
It's economic deregulation creating inequality.
It's culture wars dividing society.
It's mass incarceration hitting student communities.
It's the quiet spread of surveillance.
It's the normalization of executive power.
(34:31):
It's multi facet. Exactly.
A slow, systemic tightening of control that doesn't always look
like classic tyranny. Which loops back perfectly to
that wave theme, right? How even things that seem good
or pragmatic or necessary can end up contributing to this
system of control, and often notby force, but with our sort of
consent, or maybe just without us fully realizing it.
(34:54):
It's subtle, insidious almost. Makes it hard to see in real
time. It's less about blaming specific
people, maybe, and more about understanding these larger
systemic forces at play. Yeah.
Which raises that crucial question the sources leave us
with How do we stay vigilant? How do we stay active when the
control mechanisms are subtle, when they're wrapped in
comforting language or framed asessential for safety or
(35:15):
prosperity? How do we see past the surface?
Right. Scrutinize the mechanisms of
power, not just the personalities or the stated
goals. Because as the way it suggests
complacency and accepting narratives without question,
that's what allows these trends to continue.
Hashtag tag tag tag outro. Wow, OK, that was definitely a
deep dive. The insights here, especially
(35:36):
drawing from the truth and mythology of America's President
series, feel incredibly important.
Understanding these patterns, how control mechanisms have
evolved, persisted. It seems vital for anyone trying
to make sense of the world today, recognizing the currents
shaping things. Absolutely, and we really hope
you'll reflect on these historical shifts, what they
might mean for democratic societies, thinking critically
(35:58):
about power narratives. It's not a one off task, right?
It's ongoing needs, constant engagement, vigilance.
The the sources really imply that our awareness is maybe our
best defense. Totally agree, and it's not just
about thinking, it's about engaging.
We really encourage you talk about these ideas with friends,
family, in your community online.
Share what you're learning. These conversations deepen
(36:21):
understanding, build collective awareness.
Active engagement is key to shaping the future we want, not
just accepting one handed down. Yeah, echoing that spirit from
Educate Resistance and the Lessons of the Wave.
Awareness and collective action,especially decentralized action,
seem crucial for preserving freedom.
We definitely encourage exploring how you can strengthen
(36:42):
democratic principles where you are.
The sources recommend checking out resources like those found
on a einstein.org, specifically Gene Sharp's book From
Dictatorship to Democracy. Right, that offers insights into
nonviolent resistance. Exactly how movements for
freedom can start and sustain themselves.
It's about considering how to build local decentralized
resistance. Follow principles of non
(37:04):
nonviolent action to counter authoritarian trends.
Taking action to build the worldyou want to see.
So as we close out, maybe one last question to ponder.
What structures, norms or narratives around us today might
be silently shaping the next wave of change?
And how can we use these historical insights to
understand them and hopefully guide them towards the future we
actually choose? And hey, if you found this Deep
(37:26):
dive useful, please do us a solid like share and subscribe
to the Deep Dive. It really helps us keep these
conversations going and reach more people.
Help us get these critical discussions out there.
Thanks for diving deep with us today.
We've seen the tide turn before,from liberty to fear, from truth
to control. But this is not the end.
This is our call to stand, to rise, to rebuild.
(37:47):
Because democracy is not a gift,it's a choice.
Every day in shiles cast by tyrants hand where truth was
drowned beneath the sand, We heard the cry from far and wide,
a silent scream. The stars get high from
Epstein's dark unsealed decay tobump it.
Laws that strip away the mask has slipped, the right exposed
(38:09):
the halls of power now deposed. But through the noise, a spark
remained, A voice not thought, not bent, Unchained.
A cannon dig, not born from gold, but fire.
Just as stories to run the. Ashes we rise like the dawn
breaking lies with the wave. As our guide we reclaim what
survived, not just for one, but for all.
(38:32):
We the people here, the culture of the world, we unite, but we
born in the light. Before cries ringing out afar to
blood red lines in Kandahar, authoritarians fed the flame,
but millions rose and spoke our name.
The firewall built from every voice.
Survivors made the noblest choice to leave, to speak, to
(38:55):
build a new a global dream long overdue.
The truth. They feared, we now declare.
The world's not theirs. We all must care.
From cave to Flint, from Gaza shore.
No whelms peace anymore from. The ashes we rise, It's like the
dawn breaking lies with the wave.
There's our guide. We reclaim and survive not just
(39:17):
for one life for all we the people here, the call to the
wall, we unite or we born in thelight and.
About left or right, It's about right and wrong.
(39:39):
The wave taught us how it happened, slowly, suddenly, and
all at once. But we've learned, we've seen,
and we've chosen. Never again.
From the ashes we rise no more heart, for more lies.
With the will in our stride, we ignite the world wide tide.
A new. Leader Fortune Flay not.
(40:02):
For power, for the name of everyvoice that.
Dares to fight Gobri. Born in the light, we have a
fire. We are the wave, and this time
we choose the light. We are the wave, and this time
(40:33):
we choose the light. We've learned, we've seen, and
(41:16):
we've chosen ever again. From the ashes we rise.
No more hate, no more lies with the wave.
Taught us how it happens slowly,subtly, than all at once.
But we've learned, we've seen, and we've chosen.
Never again.
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