25 years after 9/11, our definition of terrorism continues to expand
Summary
Hosts Ba Parker and Jean Denby examine the expanding definition of "terrorism" in the U.S., from its post-9/11 focus on Muslims to its current application against domestic protesters and Antifa. Guests Saher Saladin and Alex Lubin discuss how counterterrorism policies like the Patriot Act and fusion centers have eroded civil liberties and due process. They trace the term’s history to Indigenous and anti-colonial resistance, arguing that labeling dissent as terrorism justifies extrajudicial state violence and the militarization of American cities.
Topics discussed
Trump labels Antifa and protesters as terrorists
Introduction to Saher Saladin and the ambiguity of 'terrorism'
Post-9/11 targeting of Muslims and the War on Terror
Patriot Act, secret evidence, and surveillance policies
Fusion centers and surveillance of domestic protesters
Risks of expanding the definition of terrorism
Civil liberties and democratic norms under threat
Introduction to Alex Lubin and historical context
Historical use of 'terrorist' against Indigenous and Black groups
Legal definitions and political use of domestic terrorism
Counter-insurgency policing and recent prosecutions
Extrajudicial violence and historical parallels
Anti-imperialist movements labeled as terrorists
Defining the War on Terror and state violence
The 'everywhere war' and the return of ICE to US cities
The concept of 'homeland' as a post-2001 creation
Erosion of 4th Amendment rights and state power
Comparison to Watergate and Vietnam era civil liberties
Expansion of executive power and Trump as a symptom
Credits and sign-off
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