The Making of a Cold War Spy The Making of a Cold War Spy
The life and work of Frank Wisner, one of the CIA’s founding officers, offers us a portrait of American intelligence’s excesses.
Mar 11, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Adam Hochschild
The Senator Who Took On the CIA The Senator Who Took On the CIA
Frank Church and the committee that investigated the US intelligence agencies.
Sep 5, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Adam Hochschild
The Cult of J. Edgar Hoover The Cult of J. Edgar Hoover
A zealot through and through, he ran the FBI like a religious sect.
Mar 7, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Adam Hochschild
The American Socialism That Might Have Been The American Socialism That Might Have Been
Despite their minority status, the Socialists had been a significant force in American politics before patriotic war hysteria brought on an era of repression.
Oct 12, 2022 / Adam Hochschild
Trump Isn’t the First President to Attack the Press Trump Isn’t the First President to Attack the Press
Woodrow Wilson’s presidency threatened to censor critical media using the US Postal Service over a century ago.
Mar 19, 2020 / Adam Hochschild
Trump’s Demagoguery Is an Old American Tradition Trump’s Demagoguery Is an Old American Tradition
Over 100 years ago, the US exploited racial differences to distract the country from its overwhelming inequality. Trump is doing the same.
Aug 1, 2019 / Adam Hochschild
A Brutal Account of Colonialism in Africa Just Showed Up in the Most Unlikely of Places: Hollywood A Brutal Account of Colonialism in Africa Just Showed Up in the Most Unlikely of Places: Hollywood
Bet you didn’t know the latest Tarzan movie was based on this story.
Jul 19, 2016 / Adam Hochschild
The Untold Story of the Texaco Oil Tycoon Who Loved Fascism The Untold Story of the Texaco Oil Tycoon Who Loved Fascism
Franco’s fuel supplier didn’t live in Berlin or Rome. He lived in New York, and he worked in the Chrysler Building.
Mar 21, 2016 / Adam Hochschild
Why No One Remembers the Peacemakers Why No One Remembers the Peacemakers
Memorials across the world pay tribute to “fallen soldiers,” but virtually none exist for those who fought for peace.
Dec 9, 2014 / Adam Hochschild
Never Again: The Bloody Origins of Veterans Day Never Again: The Bloody Origins of Veterans Day
The first day of the Battle of Somme was one of the deadliest in history.
Nov 11, 2013 / Adam Hochschild and Joe Sacco