The Matrix: A Further Exploration

Part 1: New World Notes #615, 28:57  (December 17)
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Part 2: New World Notes #616, 28:28 (December 24)
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Part 3: New World Notes #617, 28:38  (December 31)
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Part 4: New World Notes #618, 28:28 (January 7)
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An intriguing audio tapestry woven by Robin Upton from Unwelcome Guests' archival material. It's a fine exploration of how the forces that run the world actually operate in practice. And an exploration of the propaganda they generate to pacify and mislead the people.

Central to this tapestry is Richard K. Moore's fine essay, "Escaping the Matrix," read by Lyn  Gerry. Woven around that are several other discussions that supplement, extend, and illustrate the essay's several points.

Richard K. Moore

Lyn Gerry

Let Your Life Be a Friction to Stop the Machine

New World Notes #614, 29:02 (December 10)
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An essay on America's current problems from Class War Films. A wide-ranging but concise critique of how America is run by a financial and corporatist elite. It's also about how our national myths (e.g., American Exceptionalism) are used to sugar-coat and justify imperial war abroad, political repression at home, and economic exploitation everywhere.

Beneath the Doomsday/Armageddon tone and style of this piece is an intelligent, cogent, left-of-center critique of our current system.

Plus--relatedly--a few words by me on the election of 2016..

Previouslly broadcast, as NWN #437, in July 2016.

More Gore

New World Notes #613, 28:32 (December 3)
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Gore Vidal, with Senator John F. Kennedy, 1960

The late activist-essayist-novelist-historian Gore Vidal reads his "Open Letter To the Next President." I hope Elizabeth and Bernie are listening, for Vidal's "letter"  is as timely now as it was when he spoke--shortly before the election of 2000.

Vidal urges dismantling the out-of-control Pentagon and the National Security State, and he denounces Congress for serving the corporations rather than the citizens.

Plus a clip from the movie Bob Roberts and some music by Bruce Cockburn.

This is the third in our series of shows featuring Gore Vidal. Our pages on the first and second shows are here and here,