The Socialist Program with Brian Becker How Capitalist Media Hides U.S. Imperialism in Plain Sight [Preview]
Feb 17, 2026
A critique of how mainstream capitalist media masks U.S. motives for war. A line-by-line takedown of a New York Times piece about oil and power. A tour of historical interventions from Iran to Iraq and Libya that highlights patterns of control. An exploration of how financial and legal mechanisms let the U.S. dominate foreign oil without direct ownership.
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Historical Examples Connect Wars To Oil
- Brian Becker recounts historical US interventions, citing Iraq, Libya, and Iran as examples tied to oil interests.
- He highlights how media language and passive voice obscure these patterns.
Media Frames Oil Motives As Taboo Broken
- The New York Times piece frames US motives as benign while obscuring historical US control over oil in countries like Iraq and Libya.
- Brian Becker and Leanne Fulahan argue oil control has been central to US imperialism across administrations, not a Trump anomaly.
Read Media With Skeptical Lens
- Question media narratives critically and trace who benefits from the policies described.
- Read past passive or neutral phrasing to uncover material interests and institutional control.