Explore the shocking truth behind the Afghanistan War in our deep dive into Bodyguard of Lies. We uncover decades of government deception and falsehoods, featuring never-before-seen insider testimonies that reveal how the public was misled. We speak with director Dan Krauss about making the documentary and exposing the cover-up behind one of the longest wars in U.S. history.

If you’re interested in uncovering hidden truths, understanding U.S. foreign policy failures, or learning what really happened in Afghanistan, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

03:58 – The Story Behind the Documentary

06:39 – Misleading the Public

09:47 – Revealing Audio Tapes

11:28 – Early Doubts About the War

19:26 – Financial Stakes in the War

23:35 – Corruption and Cash Flow

29:25 – Missed Opportunities for Peace

32:21 – Voices of the Afghan People

36:16 – Remote Filming Challenges

40:08 –Final Lies of the War

45:18 –Hope for the Future

50:30 – What’s next and signing off

In this Letter From Britain episode of Factual America, our host Matthew reflects on the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk and what it means for free speech, political extremism, and the state of democracy in America and beyond.

We examine the rise of political extremism, the media’s role in shaping the narrative, and how leaders from Bernie Sanders to Robert Redford have spoken out about the urgent need for civil discourse.

Timecodes:

00:00 – Intro

00:20 – The assassination of Charlie Kirk

01:30 – Political extremism & censorship

07:00 – Media narratives & public trust

14:00 – The passing of Robert Redford

16:00 – Reflections on hope & democracy

This interview was recorded before the news of Charlie Kirk’s murder, but its insights into political violence and radicalisation remain highly relevant.

Max Horder discusses the phenomenon of 'Luigi-ism', a term he coined to describe a troubling trend of left-wing violence and its cultural implications. He explains how Luigi Mangione became a cultural icon to the far left, reflecting a growing acceptance of violence in political discourse.

The discussion also contrasts left-wing and right-wing violence, exploring the psychological and sociological factors driving these behaviours. Horder emphasizes the role of social media in shaping perceptions and justifications for violence, and warns of increasing polarisation in American society, leading to greater conflict.

#PoliticalViolence

#RadicalActivism

#LuigiIsm

#VigilanteJustice

#PoliticalExtremism

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro and Setup

00:52 – The Rise of Luigi-ism

08:50 –Understanding the Phenomenon of Luigiism

15:09 – Comparing Left-Wing and Right-Wing Violence

19:26 – The Nature of Left-Wing Violence

23:20 – Analysing the Numbers of Max's Survey

33:00 – The Role of Social Media in Political Violence

39:05 – "CEO down", "Luigi'd" and Other Concerning Memes

46:24 – Future Implications of Political Polarization

52:06 – More About Max Horder and The NCRI

Political cartoons, satire, and US presidents collide in the new documentary A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant. We interview Bill Banowsky on how one of the world’s most fearless cartoonists shaped politics and public opinion across five decades and ten presidencies. In this episode of Factual America, we look at the power of satire in American democracy, Oliphant’s lasting influence, and why his art remains so relevant today.

If you’re interested in political art, journalism, or the role of satire in democracy, this conversation is not to be missed.

#PoliticalCartoons

#Satire

#ASavageArt

#PoliticalDocumentary

#FactualAmerica

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

04:33 – The Film: A Savage Art

12:32 – Pat Oliphant: The Influential Cartoonist

21:39 – The Evolution of Political Cartooning

34:20 – The Impact of Media Disruption

37:54 – The Journey of Documentary Filmmaking

44:19 – The Future of Theatres and Audience Experience

Netflix’s latest true crime documentary, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, dives into one of the most disturbing high school “catfish” scandals ever exposed. In this episode, we go behind the scenes with director Skye Borgman to uncover how a teenager was lured into a devastating web of lies and manipulation by an online predator.

If you’re obsessed with Netflix true crime, catfishing scandals, or the dark side of social media, this is an unmissable conversation.

#TrueCrime #NetflixTrueCrime #CatfishStory #HighSchoolCatfish #ShockingTruth

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:12 - Synopsis

03:40 - Much more than just teasing among friends

05:53 - A small-town-witch-trial evolves

08:58 - The directors thoughts while filming

14:33 - The police step in

17:00 - The unknown number is revealed

19:13 - Understanding the perpetrator's perspective

26:55 - The art of great storytelling

31:35 - The culture of socialising through devices

34:37 - Long-term effects of cyber-bullying

37:03 - The victims looking back

38:45 - Future plans for Skye

The Dallas Cowboys, Netflix, America’s Team, the NFL, Jerry Jones, and the (un)making of a modern football dynasty – we dive into all these topics in this episode featuring Chapman and Maclain Way, the Emmy-winning filmmakers behind Netflix’s new sports docuseries America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.

Known for Wild Wild Country, Kings of Tupelo and Untold, the Way brothers break down how the Cowboys became America’s most iconic, and controversial, team. From behind-the-scenes drama to media manipulation, this series isn’t just about football; it’s about power, ego, and the team that changed American pro sports and culture.

00:00 – Intro and Setup

01:16 – Documentary synopsis

03:53 – The new guy in town

10:09 – A new era for the NFL

16:33 – How the project came together

19:00 – Never-before-seen footage of the Cowboys

21:47 – Jerry Jones – narrator of his own story

26:15 – Maclain, Chapman and the cast of their dreams

31:45 – Challenges of making the documentary

33:45 – A Spaghetti Western sports doc

38:40 – Striving for the next Super Bowl

40:50 – Wrapping up

The Biggest Loser, Netflix, reality TV, weight loss, fitness culture, diet industry, TV scandal.

Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser, a Netflix docuseries directed by Skye Borgman, exposes the dark side of one of television’s most controversial shows. We dive into the harsh truths behind the cameras, the toll on contestants’ lives, and how the series reshaped America’s ideas about weight and wellness.

If you want the real story behind the headlines, this episode is a must-watch. Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser recently premiered on Netflix. Subscribe for more deep dives into the stories behind your favourite shows.

Timecodes:

00:00 – Introduction and Setup

01:22 – Synopsis of "Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser"

05:47 – One of the most successful reality TV shows

06:57 – The controversy of massive weight loss

11:35 – Challenges and a fake reality

15:44 – What motivates the participants?

19:32 – The growth of the show

22:41 – Bizarre weight loss methods

26:37 – How healthily do Americans live today?

29:01 – Directing the documentary

35:06 – Future Projects

35:51 – Wrapping up

Storm Area 51 – viral meme, US military, internet conspiracy, aliens, UFOs, Nevada desert, Facebook event, true story. In 2019, a joke Facebook post about storming Area 51 went viral and triggered a full-scale media frenzy that put the US military on high alert. What started as an internet meme turned into a real-world phenomenon that captured the world’s attention.

In this episode, we speak with Jack MacInnes, director of the latest Trainwreck episode covering the Storm Area 51 event. He breaks down what really happened, how the story spiralled out of control, and why this strange moment in internet culture still matters. From alien hunters to military warnings, this is the bizarre true story behind one of the internet’s most unforgettable viral events.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

02:32 – Overview of Trainwreck: Storm Area 51

03:26 – The Origin of the Storm Area 51 Meme

08:10 – The Cultural Impact and Narrative of the Event

10:56 – The Role of Influencers and Media

14:19 – Understanding Memes and Their Evolution

16:11 – The Journey to Rural Nevada and Its Significance

18:27 – Exploring the Mystique of Area 51

20:16 – The Meme That Became a Movement

23:13 – The Seriousness of a Joke

25:50 – The Fallout of the Event

28:31 – The Reality of Attendance

29:44 – The Internet's Role in the Phenomenon

31:51 – The Aftermath and Reflections

34:41 – Future Endeavours and New Projects