America’s 20-Year Lie: What Bodyguard of Lies Reveals
Explore the shocking truth behind the Afghanistan War in our deep dive into Bodyguard of Lies. We uncover decades of government deception and falsehoods, featuring never-before-seen insider testimonies that reveal how the public was misled. We speak with director Dan Krauss about making the documentary and exposing the cover-up behind one of the longest wars in U.S. history.If you’re interested in uncovering hidden truths, understanding U.S. foreign policy failures, or learning what really happened in Afghanistan, this episode is for you.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction 03:58 – The Story Behind the Documentary06:39 – Misleading the Public09:47 – Revealing Audio Tapes11:28 – Early Doubts About the War19:26 – Financial Stakes in the War23:35 – Corruption and Cash Flow29:25 – Missed Opportunities for Peace32:21 – Voices of the Afghan People36:16 – Remote Filming Challenges40:08 –Final Lies of the War45:18 –Hope for the Future50:30 – What’s next and signing off
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51:48
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51:48
The Future of Free Speech: Who Will Win?
In this Letter From Britain episode of Factual America, our host Matthew reflects on the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk and what it means for free speech, political extremism, and the state of democracy in America and beyond.We examine the rise of political extremism, the media’s role in shaping the narrative, and how leaders from Bernie Sanders to Robert Redford have spoken out about the urgent need for civil discourse.Timecodes: 00:00 – Intro00:20 – The assassination of Charlie Kirk01:30 – Political extremism & censorship07:00 – Media narratives & public trust14:00 – The passing of Robert Redford16:00 – Reflections on hope & democracy
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16:51
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16:51
Political Extremism in Focus: Luigi-ism, Riots, and Extreme Leftist Violence
This interview was recorded before the news of Charlie Kirk’s murder, but its insights into political violence and radicalisation remain highly relevant.Max Horder discusses the phenomenon of 'Luigi-ism', a term he coined to describe a troubling trend of left-wing violence and its cultural implications. He explains how Luigi Mangione became a cultural icon to the far left, reflecting a growing acceptance of violence in political discourse. The discussion also contrasts left-wing and right-wing violence, exploring the psychological and sociological factors driving these behaviours. Horder emphasizes the role of social media in shaping perceptions and justifications for violence, and warns of increasing polarisation in American society, leading to greater conflict.#PoliticalViolence#RadicalActivism#LuigiIsm#VigilanteJustice#PoliticalExtremismTimestamps:00:00 – Intro and Setup00:52 – The Rise of Luigi-ism08:50 –Understanding the Phenomenon of Luigiism15:09 – Comparing Left-Wing and Right-Wing Violence19:26 – The Nature of Left-Wing Violence23:20 – Analysing the Numbers of Max's Survey33:00 – The Role of Social Media in Political Violence39:05 – "CEO down", "Luigi'd" and Other Concerning Memes46:24 – Future Implications of Political Polarization52:06 – More About Max Horder and The NCRI
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55:53
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55:53
The Cartoonist Who Changed American Politics Forever
Political cartoons, satire, and US presidents collide in the new documentary A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant. We interview Bill Banowsky on how one of the world’s most fearless cartoonists shaped politics and public opinion across five decades and ten presidencies. In this episode of Factual America, we look at the power of satire in American democracy, Oliphant’s lasting influence, and why his art remains so relevant today. If you’re interested in political art, journalism, or the role of satire in democracy, this conversation is not to be missed.#PoliticalCartoons #Satire #ASavageArt #PoliticalDocumentary #FactualAmericaTimestamps: 00:00 – Introduction04:33 – The Film: A Savage Art12:32 – Pat Oliphant: The Influential Cartoonist21:39 – The Evolution of Political Cartooning34:20 – The Impact of Media Disruption37:54 – The Journey of Documentary Filmmaking44:19 – The Future of Theatres and Audience Experience
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51:33
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51:33
A Catfish Story That Went Too Far
Netflix’s latest true crime documentary, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, dives into one of the most disturbing high school “catfish” scandals ever exposed. In this episode, we go behind the scenes with director Skye Borgman to uncover how a teenager was lured into a devastating web of lies and manipulation by an online predator.If you’re obsessed with Netflix true crime, catfishing scandals, or the dark side of social media, this is an unmissable conversation.#TrueCrime #NetflixTrueCrime #CatfishStory #HighSchoolCatfish #ShockingTruthTimestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:12 - Synopsis 03:40 - Much more than just teasing among friends05:53 - A small-town-witch-trial evolves08:58 - The directors thoughts while filming14:33 - The police step in17:00 - The unknown number is revealed19:13 - Understanding the perpetrator's perspective26:55 - The art of great storytelling31:35 - The culture of socialising through devices34:37 - Long-term effects of cyber-bullying37:03 - The victims looking back38:45 - Future plans for Skye
Factual America examines America through the lens of documentary filmmaking. Guests include Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy-winning documentary filmmakers and producers, their subjects, as well as experts on the American experience. Find out more about the current and upcoming documentaries on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Sky Documentaries and other platforms directly from the creators. Whether we discuss true crime, music, burning social and political topics, history, or arts, Factual America is your #1 documentary film podcast.
Factual America is produced by Alamo Pictures, a London- and Austin-based production company that makes documentaries about the US from a European perspective for international audiences.
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