{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"EXCLUSIVE: Israel is \u2018Gaslighting\u2019 Us, Says \u2018Andor\u2019 Star After Trip to Occupied West Bank","description":"SPOILER ALERT: This episode includes plot details for the TV series \u2018Andor\u2019. On this week\u2019s \u2018We\u2019re Not Kidding\u2019, Mehdi once again gets to do his two favorite things: have a substantive conversation about politics and fanboy on nerd culture. That\u2019s because this week\u2019s guest is award-winning Irish actor Denise Gough, who came to prominence on the \u2018Star Wars\u2019 TV series \u2018Andor\u2019 playing an intelligence officer in service of the fascistic Empire. But in real life Denise\u2019s politics are deeply anti-imperial as an outspoken advocate for Palestine and the people of Gaza.&amp;nbsp; Mehdi speaks with Denise about her breakout role on \u2018Andor\u2019 playing \u201cone of the most compelling fascists [he\u2019s] ever seen on screen,\u201d and unpack the parallels between \u2018Andor\u2019 and the rise of fascism across the West right now. But unlike \u2018Star Wars\u2019, the \u201cgood guys\u201d in many historical conflicts are often vilified by those in power. \u201cIt's very impressive when the good guys are doing it,\u201d Mehdi says. \u201c But who defines who the good guys and the bad guys are?\u201d The two then discuss Denise\u2019s advocacy work and the historical connection between Ireland and Palestine. \u201c[Ireland] lived under occupation for hundreds of years,\u201d Denise says. She goes on to recount her recent trip to the occupied West Bank and witnessing Israel\u2019s apartheid firsthand. \u201cI've seen things that are undeniable,\u201d a visibly emotional Denise says. From the military checkpoints and fences in Hebron, to Palestinian homes barred in steel to protect against settler attacks, to handmade jewelry carved from Israeli military tear gas canisters. \u201cThere isn't a person in the world that would be able to convince me what is happening there is a democracy.\u201d SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https:\/\/zeteo.com\/subscribe WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO \u2018WE\u2019RE NOT KIDDING\u2019 ON SUBSTACK: https:\/\/zeteo.com\/s\/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/zeteo_news Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/zeteonews TikTok: https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@zeteonews FIND MEHDI: Substack: https:\/\/substack.com\/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@mehdirhasan FIND DENISE: Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/denisegough1\/?hl=en CREDITS: Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan Guest Host: Denise Gough Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello Music: Andy Clausen Design: Alicia Tatone Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali Special thanks: Khaleel Rahman ","author_name":"We\u2019re Not Kidding with Mehdi &amp; Friends","author_url":"https:\/\/zeteo.com\/s\/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/40043830\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/198383815"}