Redacted Tonight Season 1 Episode 33 Obamas State of the Union and American Sniper Decoded
- Not Rated
- January 23, 2015
- 1560 min
In episode 33 of season 1 of Redacted Tonight, titled "Obama's State of the Union and American Sniper Decoded," host Lee Camp takes a critical look at some of the most pressing issues facing America today. Camp starts off by analyzing President Obama's State of the Union address and dissecting the many promises made by the President during his speech. He goes on to detail the ways in which Obama has failed to live up to his promises over the years and argues that the President's legacy will be one of missed opportunities.
Next, Camp takes aim at the controversial film American Sniper, discussing the controversy surrounding the movie and its portrayal of the Iraq War. Camp argues that the movie's sympathy for its main character, Chris Kyle, and its portrayal of Iraqis as savage and inhuman is part of a larger narrative that has been pushed by the mainstream media for years. He goes on to argue that this dehumanization of Middle Eastern people has led to a culture of fear and Islamophobia in the United States.
Moving on to the topic of money in politics, Camp takes a closer look at two of the most powerful special interest groups in the country - Monsanto and the Koch Brothers. He discusses the way in which these groups use their enormous wealth and influence to shape political policy, often in ways that are detrimental to the public good. He also discusses the role that the National Security Agency (NSA) played in allowing these groups to flourish, arguing that the agency's massive surveillance infrastructure has been co-opted by corporate interests.
Throughout the episode, Camp uses humor and satire to highlight the absurdities of American politics and to call attention to the ways in which ordinary people are being left behind by the corporate elite. He encourages viewers to think critically about the issues facing the country and to resist the urge to accept easy answers from politicians and the media. Overall, this episode is a thought-provoking and incisive critique of American society, politics, and culture.