Episode 12: The New Atheists, Celebrity Crusaders For Empire

Citations Needed, hosted by Nima Shirazi and Adam Johnson, explores the phenomenon of New Atheism, critiquing its liberal chauvinism and imperialist tendencies. The hosts, along with guest Luke Savage, dissect the movement's key figures like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the late Christopher Hitchens, highlighting their selective targeting of Islam and the problematic demographic threat arguments they employ. They analyze how New Atheism often dovetails with U.S. foreign policy and liberal Zionism, providing an ideological scaffolding for empire while ignoring the material realities and political contexts that fuel religious extremism. The discussion covers instances of Islamophobia, the role of U.S. intervention in the Middle East, and the flawed logic behind dismissing criticisms of racism within the New Atheist movement.