Transcript: Glenn Greenwald On Facing Down Bolsonaro, Woke Journalists, Animal Torture

The indefatigable Greenwald needs no introduction for Dishheads. He was once a demon for the pro-war right; and now for the woke left. You can buy his book about Brazil under Bolsonaro, Securing Democracy, and you can donate to the animal shelter he started.

This episode aired on March 5, 2021. Some of Glenn’s money quotes:

• “I think the United States is a good country for those who live within it … What I have really soured on is the role the United States plays in the world.”

• “There is this kind of greed to [activist] movements … it’s not enough that you leave us alone, that you honor and respect what we’ve decided. You have to affirm, constantly, our worth and value.”

• “These millennials specialize in getting people fired. They revel in it. It's like the thing that arouses them. They don't get their erections from sex, they get it from like destroying people's reputations. … Stuff that's actually about where true power resides, they don't pay the slightest attention.”

• “Philosophically, I believe that society in general should not interfere in individual’s lives, and should in fact do the opposite, which is encourage and empower them to be self-actualized.”

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Andrew: Welcome to another Dishcast. This week, my old friend, sparing partner and world famous journalist, Glenn Greenwald, joins us. It's a real thrill to have you, Glenn. I don't really need to go into all the details of Glenn Greenwald's illustrious career, but he is currently completely canceled all over the place. A situation that he finds, of course, deeply unsettling. [Both laugh]

Anyway, welcome Glenn. Nice to see you.

Glenn: I'm so glad to be here, in part because I'm hoping to get some therapy over the trauma of being canceled, from one of the most canceled people on the planet. And also I love the Dishcast.

Andrew: Oh, thank you. I appreciate it.

I'm going to start, Glenn, the way I've started many of these things, which is just trying to help people understand the people I'm interviewing a little bit better. Tell me about where you were born and grew up, how your childhood and adolescence, shaped you in a way and led you to what you're doing today. Is there anything that you remember that really you think set you on this path?