Podcast Summary: On the Media – "Making History"

Podcast Information:

• Title: On the Media
• Host/Author: WNYC Studios
• Description: The Peabody Award-winning "On the Media" podcast explores the intricacies of media production, scrutinizing threats to free speech, government transparency, and the construction of political narratives in contemporary media.
• Episode: Making History
• Release Date: August 4, 2023

1. The Renaming of U.S. Military Bases

Introduction to the Issue The episode opens with Brooke Gladstone introducing the contentious debate over the historical narratives represented in the naming of U.S. military bases, particularly those named after Confederate figures.

Guest Profile: Ty Sigeley Ty Sigeley, a former brigadier general and vice chair of the National Commission on Base Renaming, shares his insights into the commission's efforts to reassess and rename military installations previously named in honor of Confederate leaders.

Historical Context and Rationale Sigeley delves into the origins of these base names, many dating back to World War I and II, a period when the "Lost Cause" mythology was being propagated to downplay the Confederacy's role in the Civil War and its association with slavery and segregation.

Ty Sigeley [05:44]: "John Brown Gordon... gave a speech to black Charlestonians where he said, if you African Americans are to demand equality, the 40 million of us white people will exterminate the 4 million of you in a race war."

Process of Renaming The commission's method involved extensive community engagement, collecting over 34,000 public suggestions, refining these to 3,000 unique names, and ultimately selecting names that better reflect American values of diversity and equality.

Ty Sigeley [12:45]: "We're not changing history. We're changing commemoration... It tells us not about the figure memorialized as much as who put it up and why they put it up."

Resistance and Political Pushback Despite initial community support, recent political maneuvers by Republican figures like Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz and endorsements from political candidates like Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis have reignited opposition to the renaming efforts.

Matt Gaetz [03:28]: "House Republicans should immediately demand that Jack Smith present himself for a transcribed interview before the Judiciary Committee in the next 15 days."

Personal Journey and Cultural Shift Sigeley shares his personal transformation from a believer in the Lost Cause narrative to an advocate for historical accuracy, highlighting the impact of archival evidence and personal relationships in reshaping his understanding of history.

Ty Sigeley [17:48]: "The facts changed me, the archives changed me, and my culture lied."

Conclusion of the Renaming Effort The commission concluded its work in October 2022, successfully recommending new names that honor American heroes from diverse backgrounds, with Fort Bragg being renamed to Fort Liberty to reflect contemporary values.

Ty Sigeley [16:23]: "We're done. We folded our tent on the 1st of October of 2022 and gave our recommendations to the Secretary of Defense, who accepted all of them."

2. Political Instability and Russian Influence in the Sahel

Overview of Recent Coups Brooke Gladstone transitions to discuss the surge of military coups in the Sahel region of West Africa, highlighting countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso as part of what reporter Alexis Akwajirum terms the "coup belt."

Impact of Russian Propaganda Akwajirum explains how Russian propaganda has been instrumental in fueling unrest and supporting coup leaders in these nations. Russian state-affiliated media outlets like RT and Sputnik News have partnered with local broadcasters to disseminate anti-Western narratives.

Alexis Akwajirum [22:20]: "The message is fundamentally that the west is trying to bring about another wave of colonialism and they should not be allowed to do that."

Historical Grievances and Resource Exploitation A key factor driving instability is the region's rich natural resources—diamonds, oil, gold—which have been historically exploited by Western powers, leading to persistent poverty despite resource abundance.

Alexis Akwajirum [09:13]: "Africa is imbued with incredible natural resources... yet Africa is the poorest continent on Earth."

Case Study: Niger The recent coup in Niger is scrutinized for its geopolitical implications, considering Niger's strategic importance to Western military operations, including U.S. and French drone bases.

Alexis Akwajirum [22:05]: "This particular coup is important because Niger is the West's strongest ally in the region."

Role of Social Media and Influencers Russian influence extends to social media, where local influencers co-opted by Russian funding propagate pro-Russian, anti-French, and anti-Western sentiments, exemplifying the soft power tactics at play.

Alexis Akwajirum [25:19]: "They've got existing networks... as a Malian soldier says, yes, please. And Russia shoots the French zombies."

Efforts for Genuine Partnership and Media Representation Akwajirum advocates for the U.S. to adopt a more empathetic and partnership-driven approach in Africa, emphasizing economic and business collaborations over paternalistic aid, to foster stability and counteract Russian narratives.

Alexis Akwajirum [33:59]: "You've got to be really, really intentional and empathetic and find ways to particularly economic and business partnerships."

3. Russian Historical Narratives and the Ukraine Invasion

Introduction to Russian Myths The conversation shifts to Mikhail Zigar, a Russian investigative journalist and author of War and Putin: Zelensky and the Path to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine. Zigar discusses the fabricated historical narratives used by Russia to justify its invasion of Ukraine.

Myth of Russian-Ukrainian Unity Zigar debunks the myth of intrinsic unity between Russians and Ukrainians, tracing it back to a 300-year-old chronicle by Inakenti Giselle that falsely unified Kyiv and Moscow under a single historical narrative.

Mikhail Zigar [39:47]: "A myth of the unity of Slavic nations is very new. It was created only three centuries ago by that German person named Inakenti Giselle."

Ivan Mazepa: A Symbol of Betrayal The historical figure Ivan Mazepa is examined as a dual symbol—seen by Russians as a traitor for siding with Sweden against Russia, while Ukrainians honor him as a patriot who prioritized his nation's interests over imperial alliances.

Mikhail Zigar [41:26]: "He is still considered to be probably the founding father of the political Ukrainian nation."

Language and Cultural Suppression Zigar highlights the Russian state's long-standing efforts to suppress the Ukrainian language and culture, perpetuating the myth that Ukrainian is merely a dialect of Russian.

Mikhail Zigar [46:38]: "A lot of Russians... consider Ukrainian not as a real language, but as provincial Russian."

Rewriting History for Political Ends Zigar criticizes the Russian government's manipulation of historical narratives to legitimize its imperial ambitions, stressing the lack of a genuine people's history in Russia that acknowledges its past atrocities and imperialistic actions.

Mikhail Zigar [50:59]: "We have never had a proper people's history of Russia. And that's the right time to start writing it."

Comparison with American Historical Reckoning Drawing parallels with the current debates in America over historical narratives, Zigar expresses hope that Russia can follow a similar path towards a more honest and inclusive recounting of its history.

Mikhail Zigar [51:52]: "Every time we add another historical narrative to the traditional one, that's the way out... People want trade, not aid."

Conclusion: The Power of Historical Narratives

Brooke Gladstone wraps up the episode by emphasizing the pervasive role of historical narratives in shaping current geopolitical landscapes and societal values. Recognizing and reevaluating these narratives is portrayed as essential for progress and stability, both in the United States and globally.

Brooke Gladstone [37:14]: "Recognizing and reckoning with one's history is an ongoing and these days it's happening just about everywhere, all at once and in every place it happens."

Notable Quotes:

• Ty Sigeley [05:44]: "John Brown Gordon... gave a speech to black Charlestonians where he said, if you African Americans are to demand equality, the 40 million of us white people will exterminate the 4 million of you in a race war."
• Matt Gaetz [03:28]: "House Republicans should immediately demand that Jack Smith present himself for a transcribed interview before the Judiciary Committee in the next 15 days."
• Ty Sigeley [17:48]: "The facts changed me, the archives changed me, and my culture lied."
• Alexis Akwajirum [22:20]: "The message is fundamentally that the west is trying to bring about another wave of colonialism and they should not be allowed to do that."
• Mikhail Zigar [46:38]: "A lot of Russians... consider Ukrainian not as a real language, but as provincial Russian."
• Brooke Gladstone [37:14]: "Recognizing and reckoning with one's history is an ongoing and these days it's happening just about everywhere, all at once and in every place it happens."

Production Credits: "On the Media" is produced by Micah Loewinger, Eloise Blondio, Molly Schwartz, Rebecca Clark, Callender, Candice Wong, and Suzanne Gaber, with assistance from Sean Merchant. Technical roles include Jennifer Munson (Technical Director), Andrew Nerviano (Engineer), and Katya Rogers (Executive Producer). The episode was produced by WNYC Studios.

Final Thoughts: "Making History" offers a profound exploration of how historical narratives influence contemporary societal structures and geopolitical tensions. Through insightful discussions with experts like Ty Sigeley, Alexis Akwajirum, and Mikhail Zigar, the episode underscores the importance of confronting and reshaping historical narratives to foster a more equitable and informed future.