The hottest Propaganda Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

My Enemies Are Not In Iran

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2915 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Mar 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. The real enemies are the western empire managers and oligarchs in places like Washington, Tel Aviv, London and Canberra who use power and tax dollars to wage war and harm societies.
  2. Western governments and their propagandists are eroding democratic agency, censoring criticism, and manipulating public opinion to normalize violence and injustice.
  3. Loyalty should be to humanity, family, and core values rather than to empire, and people in countries like Iran are not the enemy.

The One Line Inside VOAā€™s Lawsuit That Could Change Everything

Weaponized ā€¢ 21 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Mar 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Propaganda
  1. Veteran VOA staff sued, saying Trump administration officials, including the USAGM head, turned the outlet into a propaganda arm and illegally interfered with reporting.
  2. Reporters say negative stories were suppressed and they were sometimes forced to publish White House talking points word-for-word.
  3. The complaint alleges AI-generated or AI-assisted content was used to slip pro-Trump narratives into VOA broadcasts, bypassing editorial safeguards and undermining the outletā€™s independence.

We Are The Villains In This Story

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2966 implied HN points ā€¢ 11 Mar 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Western governments, especially the United States, act as imperial aggressors whose wars and policies cause widespread death and suffering around the world.
  2. Many people cling to a comforting story that they are the good guys, but propaganda and self-deception hide the calculated motives of power and profit behind that fiction.
  3. Recognizing this truth creates a responsibility to wake up, resist, and work to dismantle the empire for the sake of future generations and those harmed by its violence.

It Is Not Okay For Grown Adults To Believe Infantile Fairy Tales About Iran

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 3217 implied HN points ā€¢ 08 Mar 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Don't accept the story that the US wages wars to bring freedom, democracy, or to protect its people; those are simplistic, childish justifications for intervention.
  2. Be extremely skeptical of western news and government claims about wars, including atrocity stories and the ā€˜we are the good guysā€™ narrative.
  3. Recognize the hypocrisy and double standards: interventions often serve the interests of Israel and western elites, not ordinary Iranians, and no life should be valued less because of nationality.

New Issue Of JOHNSTONE: They're Going To Keep Lying About This War The Entire Time

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 1075 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 Mar 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. The government and mainstream media are repeatedly lying about this war, inventing or mischaracterizing events like missile strikes, nuclear threats, and casualty figures. They use those lies to build support for military action.
  2. These deceptions expose the true nature of imperial power and the plutocrats who run it, showing that they prioritize control and violence over democracy or human rights. Their actions reveal hypocrisy and a willingness to harm others to keep power.
  3. The proper response is skepticism and refusal to accept pro-war narratives at face value, so people should stop trusting leaders and outlets that push warmongering propaganda. Demand accountability, question official claims, and resist being rallied into war.
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Opposing "Both Sides" In This War Is Crazy Imperialist Nonsense, And Other Notes

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 1806 implied HN points ā€¢ 11 Mar 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. If you live under a western empire, donā€™t amplify 'both sides are bad' or regimeā€‘change narratives; use your voice to oppose your own governmentā€™s role in the war.
  2. Bashing the Iranian regime right now helps manufacture consent for violence and makes you partly responsible for the suffering it causes, without improving rights for people there.
  3. This escalation was predictable ā€” tearing up the JCPOA and leaning on regional allies made war more likely, so strikes, mine threats to the Strait of Hormuz, and wider fallout should have been anticipated.

Fuck Everyone Who Made This War Possible

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 4805 implied HN points ā€¢ 28 Feb 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. The US and Israel have launched a major military attack on Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes and likely causing widespread death and suffering.
  2. Many people see the official reasons for this war as false and believe powerful leaders and institutions are pushing it forward regardless of public consent or the horrific consequences.
  3. There is raw anger and total condemnation directed at the US, Israel, political parties, the media, and the militaryā€‘industrial complex, who are being blamed for enabling and profiting from the war.

The US Soldiers Killed In This War Were Not Heroes, And Other Notes

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2514 implied HN points ā€¢ 07 Mar 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. The US soldiers killed in the Iran war did not die defending ordinary Americans but advancing elite geostrategic interests. Calling them heroes encourages recruitment and falsely frames an aggressive, harmful war as righteous.
  2. Leaders keep promising quick endings while military planners are preparing for a protracted conflict lasting months; donā€™t trust rosy, short-timeline assurances.
  3. Left-wing resistance has been weakened by pro-regime-change voices and diaspora figures pushing for bombing, but people should not defer to those voices or be silenced. Those who ask for their homeland to be bombed donā€™t grasp the real horrors it brings, so strong public opposition is needed.

If Westerners Could Wrap Their Minds Around What War Really Is

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 3357 implied HN points ā€¢ 03 Mar 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. War is unimaginably brutal and causes horrific physical and emotional suffering. Many people in the West treat it like a video game because they havenā€™t experienced those horrors firsthand.
  2. Our culture, media, and leaders sanitize and glamorize war while dehumanizing people on the receiving end. That makes it easier for the public to support or ignore large-scale violence.
  3. The western empire depends on ongoing war and powerful actors benefit from it. Real peace requires removing or resisting the systems and leaders that profit from bloodshed.

Command-Shift-War

Unpopular Front ā€¢ 131 implied HN points ā€¢ 11 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Propaganda
  1. Public and military speech has turned into a string of stock phrases and autopilot talking points, sounding like autocomplete instead of real thought.
  2. War coverage recycles familiar images and tropes to create spectacle and propaganda, making conflict feel like a produced show rather than a considered strategy.
  3. As language becomes clichƩ and automated noise, it dulls clear thinking and public deliberation, eroding moral responsibility and democratic judgment.

Fit to Print

Doomberg ā€¢ 5875 implied HN points ā€¢ 04 Feb 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Misinformation spreads fast online, with videos and AI-generated content easily reused to depict different events and fool millions.
  2. Even mainstream news can give very different versions of the same event through what they emphasize or omit, especially on international stories with political motives.
  3. Comparing coverage across multiple international outlets is a simple, effective way to spot propaganda and get closer to the underlying facts.

No Bro This War Will Be Completely Different, Bro

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2281 implied HN points ā€¢ 25 Feb 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Claims that a new US war will be "completely different" reuse the same comforting talking points, and history shows similar interventions in the region often cause harm.
  2. Mainstream media, think tanks, and officials frequently justify intervention with WMD scares, humanitarian rhetoric, or promises of bringing democracy, so those narratives deserve close skepticism.
  3. Opposition is commonly met with ad hominem attacks and assurances that leaders will quickly fix mistakes, but real accountability and course-correction rarely follow, so be wary of simplistic reassurances.

NATOā€™s Destruction of Ukraine Under the Guise of ā€œHelpingā€

Glennā€™s Substack ā€¢ 1718 implied HN points ā€¢ 17 Sep 24
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. NATO's support for Ukraine is often framed as a selfless act to help against Russia, but it may not align with what most Ukrainians actually want. Many Ukrainians have shown little interest in joining NATO.
  2. There have been several instances where peace agreements, such as the Minsk-2 agreement, were ignored or sabotaged by Western powers, showing that their true interests may lie elsewhere.
  3. The situation in Ukraine has led to severe consequences for the population, with many lives lost and a push towards nationalism and division, rather than unity and peace.

We Deserve Better War Propaganda

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 1909 implied HN points ā€¢ 23 Feb 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Officials and tabloid media are pushing obvious, unverified claims about Iran to justify hostility, often relying on anonymous sources and weak evidence.
  2. The propaganda is so crude it shows leaders donā€™t care about winning public consent, yet theyā€™re still preparing for a large and dangerous war despite broad opposition.
  3. This loss of credible justification suggests the empire is growing more openly tyrannical and strengthens the case for popular resistance and systemic change.

15 Highly-Effective Strategies for Mass Manipulation

The Take (by Jon Miltimore) ā€¢ 416 implied HN points ā€¢ 17 Oct 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Propaganda
  1. Mass manipulation often uses emotional appeals instead of logical arguments. This makes it easier to sway people's opinions.
  2. Controlling media and education helps spread propaganda effectively. When one side dominates information, it limits the public's understanding.
  3. To resist manipulation, individuals can tune out mass media, think critically, and stick to their principles. It's about being aware and questioning what's presented.

Hezbollah Isn't An Iranian "Proxy"

JoeWrote ā€¢ 27 implied HN points ā€¢ 23 Mar 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Calling Hezbollah "Iran's proxy" is misleading because it erases the group's independent history, local support, and distinct strategic aims.
  2. Hezbollah grew out of specific Lebanese political and social conditions and pursues its own goals rather than acting solely as an instrument of Iran.
  3. Framing Hezbollah as a proxy is used to delegitimize opposition and to justify Israeli military actions while obscuring the humanitarian costs for civilians.

"Why Don't You Criticize Iran??"

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2686 implied HN points ā€¢ 31 Jan 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Focus criticism on the western empire because that is the power structure people actually live under and can influence. It is often the main source of militarism and global abuse.
  2. Mainstream media push an "Official Bad Guy" narrative to manufacture consent for aggression, which trains people to criticize foreign regimes instead of questioning their own leaders.
  3. Refusing to criticize a foreign government can be a principled choice when such criticism would feed imperial war propaganda; opposing warmongering agendas is a legitimate moral stance.

The Western Press Are Trying To Spin Epstein As A RUSSIAN Agent

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2221 implied HN points ā€¢ 03 Feb 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Big Western media outlets are running stories that Epstein was a Russian spy, pointing to alleged meetings with Putin and KGB connections.
  2. Other investigations and leaked documents suggest Epstein had ties to Israeli intelligence and figures like Ehud Barak, with some released DOJ files cited as supporting that link.
  3. Some commentators argue the Russia angle is a deliberate media spin to protect Western and oligarchic interests by distracting from possible Israeli or Western intelligence involvement.

Watching the Olympics in Ukraine

Thinking about... ā€¢ 445 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Feb 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. War shapes even leisure: air-raid sirens, power cuts, and the deaths of athletes make watching the Olympics in Ukraine a precarious and poignant experience.
  2. Ukrainian coverage feels human and unscripted, offering small comforts and clear explanations that let viewers actually enjoy the sports while personal stories remind us of the wider sacrifice.
  3. Remembering othersā€™ suffering and practicing empathy are essential to freedom; when a society cares only about winning or outcomes it risks tolerating indifference and empowering tyrants.

The Magic System Of Zionism

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2742 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Jan 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Criticism of Israel is often reframed as antisemitism, teaching people to see policy critiques as attacks on Jews.
  2. A coordinated propaganda effort (hasbara) shapes media, institutions, and social interactions to defend the state and make dissent socially risky.
  3. That influence is weakening as public skepticism grows, pro-Palestine protests and political gains rise, and the old smear tactics lose effectiveness.

The Lies Get So Tedious

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2225 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Jan 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Society is propped up by nonstop lies about politics, economics, morality, and success that keep power structures in place.
  2. Those lies are taught from childhood and normalize suffering, making people miserable, confused, and complicit instead of critical.
  3. Gaining mental sovereignty means actively unlearning indoctrination and learning to see reality clearly. It's difficult but necessary for truth and meaningful change.

Everyone Hates Israel Now Because Our Own Institutions Made It Personal

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2482 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Jan 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Western governments, the media, and social platforms often denied or justified what people saw in Gaza, and that felt like being gaslighted. That sense of being lied to pushed many people to turn against Israel.
  2. If leaders and news outlets had simply acknowledged and condemned the harm instead of defending or deflecting, criticism of Israel probably wouldn't have become such a huge mainstream phenomenon. A clear admission of wrongdoing would have kept the issue less personal for many.
  3. The real shock for people was seeing their own institutions protect violence and silence dissent, which revealed systemic moral corruption. That betrayal made the conflict feel personal and fueled widespread outrage.

Regime Change The US Empire

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2570 implied HN points ā€¢ 18 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Propaganda
  1. The most urgent regime change needed is at home: dismantle the US empireā€™s real power structures and replace them with genuine democracy that gives people real control.
  2. Itā€™s inconsistent to demand violent overthrow of other countries while ignoring or defending the US and its allies, since they are the largest and most destructive global power.
  3. Before loudly condemning other governments, people should first challenge and reform their own imperial institutions, otherwise they just help empire propaganda.

You Know They're Lying About Iran

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2300 implied HN points ā€¢ 14 Jan 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. A familiar propaganda script is being used to push for intervention in Iran, repeating the same claims about oppression and the need for military 'help'.
  2. Media and empire apologists often use human-rights rhetoric, nuance-policing, and false both-sides arguments to steer public opinion toward war.
  3. Trust your own judgment, resist being shouted down by loud voices, and be skeptical of narrative distortion and recycled talking points.

Israel And Its Supporters Deliberately Foment Hate And Division In Our Society

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2570 implied HN points ā€¢ 03 Jan 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Israel and its supporters deliberately stoke fear of ā€œradical Islamā€ to divert criticism and boost support in Western countries.
  2. This strategy increases racism and social division, drowning out legitimate criticism by shifting attention and hatred onto Muslims.
  3. Instead of changing course, Israel leans on propaganda, censorship, and threats of violence to maintain support, implying its current form depends on ongoing abuse.

We're Always Told That Everyone In The Empire-Targeted Nation Hates Their Government

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 1830 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Jan 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. People in countries targeted for regime change are not a political monolith; there are always diverse opinions about their government.
  2. Talk about bringing ā€œdemocracyā€ or ā€œfreedomā€ is often used as a pretext to justify intervention and install puppet regimes that serve imperial interests.
  3. When westerners cheer for foreign regime change they can feed propaganda and enable military action, so outsiders should avoid pushing intervention and let the people in that country decide their future.

Everyone Wants Peace Until They Get Hit With The War Propaganda

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 1732 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 Jan 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Mainstream Western media and big tech often act as propaganda systems that steer public opinion toward war and elite interests.
  2. That propaganda is especially effective because most people donā€™t realize theyā€™re being manipulated, so they believe aggressive policies are their own ideas.
  3. If enough people learn to recognize and expose this manipulation, the propaganda loses power and citizens can more easily choose peace and freedom.

Making Sense of the Information Ecosystem

The Honest Broker Newsletter ā€¢ 1629 implied HN points ā€¢ 05 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Propaganda
  1. Democracy depends on people acting together based on shared attitudes, and those attitudes are usually formed by communication rather than direct experience. Powerful symbols and messages shape how people feel and choose to act.
  2. Propaganda ā€” the manipulation of significant symbols to manage collective attitudes ā€” is an unavoidable and fundamental part of the information ecosystem and political life. Because it can't be eliminated, the practical response is to counter it with more effective communication.
  3. Political truths are often negotiated through institutions like courts, media, and elections, not settled solely by experts. The key challenge is aligning reliable expert knowledge with collective action when parts of the public may reject or distrust expertise.

Israel Propagandists Are Uniformly Spouting The Exact Same Line About The Bondi Shooting

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2347 implied HN points ā€¢ 17 Dec 25
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. A wide range of pro-Israel outlets and public figures quickly pushed the same message tying the Bondi Beach shooting to the slogan "globalize the intifada," creating the appearance of a coordinated talking point.
  2. Equating that slogan with calls for massacring Jews conflates protest and criticism of Israel with violent antisemitism, while ignoring that "intifada" can include nonviolent resistance.
  3. Using the attack to spotlight this slogan looks like a political move to deflect attention from Israelā€™s actions in Gaza and to discourage criticism by framing dissent as dangerous.

Israel expanded propaganda contract with Trump's former campaign manager

All-Source Intelligence Fusion ā€¢ 1139 implied HN points ā€¢ 07 Jan 26
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Propaganda
  1. Brad Parscaleā€™s firm Clock Tower X expanded a U.S. propaganda contract for the Israeli government to $9 million and is working through intermediaries like HAVAS.
  2. The operation runs at least nine branded websites and channels to push proā€‘Israel messaging across culture, economics, technology, and 'factā€‘checking,' and it even targets AI/GPT framing.
  3. Some brands carry aggressive informationā€‘warfare tacticsā€”targeting Christian audiences, trying to influence Wikipedia, and amplifying content on platforms like YouTubeā€”while disclosing distribution by Clock Tower X for the State of Israel.

Ah, Good Old War Propaganda

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 2291 implied HN points ā€¢ 02 Dec 25
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Major media outlets often manufacture consent for imperial agendas, shaping stories to justify wars and demonize targeted leaders rather than simply inform the public.
  2. Narrative control is systemic and deliberate: owners, state broadcasters, think tanks, algorithms and billionaire-backed tech shape what people see to protect the imperial status quo.
  3. The antidote is grassroots actionā€”expose propaganda, promote media literacy, and help others recognize manipulation so truth can challenge the existing power structure.

After Vance Blasts Europe, the Mask Drops

TK News by Matt Taibbi ā€¢ 22151 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Feb 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Propaganda
  1. J.D. Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference made a big impact and raised many questions. People are encouraged to check it out and think about its meaning.
  2. There's a clear suggestion that propaganda influences how information is shared and understood. It's becoming easier to see how narratives can be shaped by those in power.
  3. Responses to the speech show a strong desire to fact-check and provide context. This highlights the importance of critical thinking when consuming news.

Wikipedia Editors Are Helping Iran Rewrite History

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 704 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Jan 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. A coordinated campaign is using Wikipedia edits to rewrite and sanitize Iranā€™s human-rights record and historical events.
  2. This online propaganda runs alongside violent repression and internet blackouts that stop people from documenting and sharing evidence.
  3. Years of pro-regime editing make it harder for outsiders to learn the truth and let the regime shape the international narrative.

Don't Let The Empire Gaslight You Into Believing You Are Powerless

Caitlinā€™s Newsletter ā€¢ 1941 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Nov 25
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Propaganda
  1. Donā€™t accept the lie that youā€™re powerless; take concrete actions like community organizing, creating dissident media, and having conversations to help wake people up.
  2. Take responsibility for your inner life by doing real trauma healing and spiritual or psychological work, because personal transformation improves your quality of life even under oppressive systems.
  3. Small, consistent daily actions matter ā€” reject learned helplessness and stop waiting for a miracle, since believing youā€™re helpless only serves the powerful.

Dissecting A Modern Vaccine Propaganda Piece

The Forgotten Side of Medicine ā€¢ 8824 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Jan 24
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Propaganda
  1. The author dissects a modern vaccine propaganda piece and reveals tactics used to defend unchallenged arguments.
  2. Peter Hotez is highlighted as drawing the ire of the vaccine safety community by defending the vaccine narrative and attacking critics.
  3. Hotez's suggestions to silence opposition and his rhetoric are critiqued for their implications on free speech and public debate.

Attribution Error: A Case Study in How China Narratives Are Built on Sand

Pekingnology ā€¢ 196 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Feb 26
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. Check who actually runs a site before calling a story state propaganda; similar-looking domains can be totally different and official registries can confirm affiliation.
  2. News often spreads through reposts and commercial portals, so the original source and its local context matter more than the outlet you first see.
  3. Donā€™t infer political intent without verifying attribution and context; apply labels like ā€œindustrial policyā€ consistently instead of forcing stories to fit a neat narrative.

Debate: Was Covid-19 A Pandemic Caused By A Novel Pathogen Or Was It Created Solely By Harmful Policies and Fear Propaganda?

Pierre Koryā€™s Medical Musings ā€¢ 6368 implied HN points ā€¢ 09 Jan 24
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Propaganda
  1. Experts debated whether Covid-19 was caused by a novel pathogen or harmful policies and fear propaganda.
  2. Some argued that there was no medical emergency from Covid itself, but from policy measures and vaccines.
  3. Clinical experience indicated a novel pathogen caused a unique and severe syndrome, despite some pre-existing antibody presence.

War of Attrition & War Propaganda

Glennā€™s Substack ā€¢ 619 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Jul 24
šŸŒ World Politics Propaganda
  1. In a war of attrition, defeating the enemy is more important than capturing land, but this can lead to heavy casualties and slow progress.
  2. The media often downplays the reality of casualties to maintain public support for the conflict, creating a false image of victory.
  3. Calls for peace and negotiations are often dismissed or punished, even though they could help save lives and end the fighting.