June 7, 2021
Episode112

After the Fall: Ben Rhodes on Authoritarianism and What It Means to Be An American

Ben Rhodes is a former Senior National Security Staffer and speechwriter for Barack Obama, co-host of Pod Save the World, and author of the new book “After the Fall: Being American in the World We’ve Made.” He joined the podcast to discuss rising authoritarianism in the world, and what it means to be an American in the world we built.

Praise For After The Fall: Being American In The World We’ve Made…

Praise for The World as It Is

“A classic coming-of-age story, about the journey from idealism to realism, told with candor and immediacy . . . [Ben Rhodes’s] achievement is rare for a political memoir: He has written a humane and honorable book.”—The New York Times Book Review

“More than any other White House memoirist, Rhodes is a creature of the man he served.”—The New Yorker

“Insightful, funny, and moving, this is a beautifully observed, essential record of what it was like to be there.”—Samantha Power

Listen:

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Sources for audio clips

Intro
Nov. 10, 1989: Celebration at the Berlin Wall - ABC News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snsdDb7KDkg
"BUILD THAT WALL!" Donald Trump Chants After Major Endorsement - NewsNOW from Fox https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGSAhNZnisk
How authoritarianism has spread since the coronavirus pandemic began https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7diAnPITmv4
resident Donald Trump’s History Of Praising Dictators And Bad Mouthing Allies | Hardball | MSNBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOfoejs__BE
arms sale to israel
Bernie To Block U.S. Arms Sale To Israel - The Damage Report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doy81nj394Y
Anti-Semitic attacks
Rise of Anti-Semitic Attacks In U.S. Amid Middle East Violence - MSNBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpjof6Wir9k
Tea Party
The Tea Party's Influence on American Politics - Brookings Institutiuon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmmkQhBHjO0
Ben Shapiro
Ben Shapiro: America Is ‘Founded On Judea-Christian Ideals!’ - Secular Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1usfmNm2DDs
Right Wing Populism
Trump's Populism vs. Reagan's Conservatism - The Aspen Institute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkCWn2yNWYc
Hong Kong Protest
Hong Kong protests turn violent - CBS News: The National https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oZHAPT-7ts
Liz Cheney
Republicans Vote To Remove Rep. Liz Cheney From GOP Leadership | MSNBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54CHwaoUMao
Eurpoeans on Trump
US election 2020: European public watches US vote with hope and concern - Euronews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88rOsr_5QMw
Barack Obama
The Speech that Made Obama President - Thinkr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFPwDe22CoY
Outro
“Can It Happen Here?” Essayists On Trump, Signs Of Authoritarianism In America - GBH News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QqEqvzuoZo

Show Credits

Host: Alyssa Milano
Executive Producer: Alyssa Milano
Associate Producer: Ben Jackson
Editing and Sound Production: Natasha Jacobs
Music by: Josh Cooke & Eleisha Eagle