The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

Karen Attiah on Media Censorship, Jamal Khashoggi & Defending Free Speech

Columbia University

first amendment

Jamal Khashoggi

Middle East Coverage

muslim public affairs council

salam al-marayati

Student Encampments

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

washington post

On October 22, 2026 By MPAC

On Episode 12 of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with award-winning journalist and former Washington Post Global Opinions founding editor Karen Attiah. Commemorating eight years since the assassination of Saudi dissident and columnist Jamal Khashoggi, Karen and Salam examine the dismantling of institutional platforms for dissident voices, the rise of corporate newsroom censorship, and the double standards in coverage surrounding Gaza and campus anti-war demonstrations. Karen details why she launched her independent Resistance Study series after facing institutional pushback, the collapse of the separation between media and the state, and the urgent necessity for journalists to resist historical erasure. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction & Honoring Jamal Khashoggi’s Legacy 04:00 - From Celebrating Press Freedom to Institutional Purges 07:15 - Media Double Standards: Selective Humanity and the Coverage of Gaza 11:32 - Separation of Media & State: Why Access Journalism Silences Truth 14:32 - Dismantling Global Opinions: When Speech Becomes a Corporate Spreadsheet 18:09 - The Columbia University Encampments & Faculty Self-Censorship 24:16 - Militarized Police on Campuses and the Criminalization of Dissent 31:44 - The Power of Black and Palestinian Civic Solidarity 37:17 - How Mainstream Media Vacuum Creates Space for Bad-Faith Actors 42:31 - Fighting Historical Erasure: Why Memory Is Resistance Disclaimer:The views, statements, and opinions expressed by guests on The MPAC Podcast are solely those of the individual guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), host Salam Al-Marayati, its leadership, board, or staff. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Karen Attiah: Who Decides Who Is Human in the Media?

Corporate Journalism

first amendment

muslim public affairs council

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

washington post

On October 21, 2026 By MPAC

In this high-stakes preview from the upcoming episode of The MPAC Podcast releasing Friday, October 23rd, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with award-winning journalist Karen Attiah. Together, they dissect corporate censorship, the collapse of institutional media independence, and how editorial newsrooms determine whose humanity is validated and whose is erased. The full episode drops this Friday, October 23rd on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss it! Disclaimer:The views, statements, and opinions expressed by guests on The MPAC Podcast are solely those of the individual guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), host Salam Al-Marayati, its leadership, board, or staff. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Foreign Governments Targeting American Dissidents?

civil liberties

Foreign Surveillance

Middle East politics

muslim public affairs council

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

The Young Turks

Transnational Repression

On October 13, 2026 By MPAC

In this clip from Episode 11 of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati and guest Cenk Uygur discuss how foreign Middle Eastern regimes attempt to surveil, intimidate, and place American political dissidents on terror lists. Cenk challenges conventional foreign policy narratives, breaking down regional alliances and the contradictions behind who gets labeled an extremist. Disclaimer: The views, statements, and opinions expressed by guests on The MPAC Podcast are solely those of the individual guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), host Salam Al-Marayati, its leadership, board, or staff. Watch full podcast episodes, analysis, and interviews on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Links in the description! Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Cenk Uygur: “Your Rights Aren’t Worth Anything If You Don’t Use Them”

american muslims

civic engagement

muslim public affairs council

Political Courage

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

The Young Turks

On October 9, 2026 By MPAC

In this clip from Episode 11 of The MPAC Podcast, The Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur delivers an impassioned message on civic participation, constitutional rights, and overcoming institutional intimidation. Cenk reminds American Muslims that they are 100% American with full constitutional protections - and that rights mean nothing unless communities have the courage to exercise them. Disclaimer:The views, statements, and opinions expressed by guests on The MPAC Podcast are solely those of the individual guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), host Salam Al-Marayati, its leadership, board, or staff. Watch full podcast episodes, analysis, and interviews on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Links in the description! Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Cenk Uygur on Media Propaganda, Foreign Policy & Challenging the Establishment

Independent Media

Media Criticism

muslim public affairs council

Political Reform

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

The Young Turks

US foreign policy

On October 7, 2026 By MPAC

On Episode 11 of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with Cenk Uygur, founder and host of The Young Turks. Tracing the media landscape from the early 2000s Iraq War coverage to the current crisis in the Middle East, Cenk and Salam discuss how independent digital platforms broke through traditional network narratives, the shift in American public opinion regarding foreign intervention, and the structural hurdles that prevent public consensus from translating into political power. Cenk also details why he left cable news, the founding of TYT, and the vital role of civic organizing and courageous independent commentary. Timestamps: 00:00 - Teaser & Introduction 01:36 - Mainstream Media Guardrails vs. Independent Journalism 04:11 - The Iraq War, Narrative Control & Shifting Public Sentiment 10:36 - Translating 98% Public Support Into Actual Political Power 14:39 - Economic Vulnerabilities, Middle East Conflicts & Domestic Impact 24:46 - Regional Geopolitics: Gulf Alliances & Transnational Pressure 34:40 - Local Politics & The Gaza Litmus Test in Los Angeles 51:13 - The Origin of The Young Turks: From Sirius Radio to YouTube 57:51 - Civic Courage: Why Americans Must Speak Up and Organize Disclaimer: The views, statements, and opinions expressed by guests on The MPAC Podcast are solely those of the individual guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), host Salam Al-Marayati, its leadership, board, or staff. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

TYT’S Cenk Uygur on Media Propaganda, Foreign Policy & Challenging the Establishment |

Independent Media

Media Criticism

muslim public affairs council

Political Reform

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

The Young Turks

US foreign policy

On October 7, 2026 By MPAC

On Episode 11 of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with Cenk Uygur, founder and host of The Young Turks. Tracing the media landscape from the early 2000s Iraq War coverage to the current crisis in the Middle East, Cenk and Salam discuss how independent digital platforms broke through traditional network narratives, the shift in American public opinion regarding foreign intervention, and the structural hurdles that prevent public consensus from translating into political power. Cenk also details why he left cable news, the founding of TYT, and the vital role of civic organizing and courageous independent commentary. Timestamps: 00:00 - Teaser & Introduction 01:36 - Mainstream Media Guardrails vs. Independent Journalism 04:11 - The Iraq War, Narrative Control & Shifting Public Sentiment 10:36 - Translating 98% Public Support Into Actual Political Power 14:39 - Economic Vulnerabilities, Middle East Conflicts & Domestic Impact 24:46 - Regional Geopolitics: Gulf Alliances & Transnational Pressure 34:40 - Local Politics & The Gaza Litmus Test in Los Angeles 51:13 - The Origin of The Young Turks: From Sirius Radio to YouTube 57:51 - Civic Courage: Why Americans Must Speak Up and Organize Disclaimer: The views, statements, and opinions expressed by guests on The MPAC Podcast are solely those of the individual guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), host Salam Al-Marayati, its leadership, board, or staff. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

Cenk Uygur: “Wait Till They Realize It’s Propaganda”

Anti War Movement

Media Propaganda

muslim public affairs council

Political Power

salam al-marayati

The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati

The Young Turks

On October 6, 2026 By MPAC

In this high-stakes teaser from The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with The Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur. They break down how public opinion decisively shifted against foreign interventions, why mainstream media spent decades selling corporate propaganda, and the critical hurdle facing the country: turning overwhelming popular support into actual political power. Watch the full conversation with Cenk Uygur on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Links in the description! Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.

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