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I started a Substack with @marksussman! It's called Imperialist Realism. The first piece is on the connections between empire, grunge, and Kurt Cobain! Link below.

NEW BOOK OUT TOMORROW There's a name for the mood that keeps US foreign policy locked in place no matter how badly it fails: imperialist realism. @dbessner argues that it's easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of the current system. Imperialist realism has three main features: 1. Cynicism. After the Global War on Terror failed to defeat terrorism, spread democracy, or improve America's image abroad, officials stopped believing the US could steer the world in a good direction. 2. Missionism. Despite that failure, officials insist the empire is here to stay and has to keep acting regardless. 3. Tragic guilt. Americans know their country hasn't been a good steward of world affairs, but insist there's no other choice, so the guilt never turns into a different course of action. Combine that with a public that has been locked out of real foreign policy decisions for 80 years, and you get a country that can name its empire, has grown skeptical of its wars, and still can't picture doing anything else. Bessner traces this mindset across a diversity of realms, from the language the White House uses to justify military budgets to the best-selling video game franchise Call of Duty. Preorder @dbessner's Imperialist Realism today: bookshop.org/p/books/imperi…

Reminder that our livestream is back tonight at 8 pm ET! Tonight's stream welcomes back Jasper Nathaniel (@infinite_jaz) to talk about his latest trip to the West Bank. Join the chat! Links in the replies.