Episode 3 - Bread and Circuses: How Authoritarian States Turn Punishment into Entertainment cover art

Episode 3 - Bread and Circuses: How Authoritarian States Turn Punishment into Entertainment

Episode 3 - Bread and Circuses: How Authoritarian States Turn Punishment into Entertainment

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 How do authoritarian systems maintain power without constant force?In this episode of We Sided with the Rebellion, we begin with a fact-check segment examining recent political and economic claims, including assertions about Thanksgiving dinner costs, Black Friday spending trends, redistricting battles, and election outcomes. We break down how selective data, misleading comparisons, and headline framing shape public perception and political narratives.From there, we move into a full retelling of The Hunger Games, designed for listeners who may not be familiar with the books or films. We trace the rise of Panem from societal collapse, the creation of the districts, the First Rebellion, and the invention of the Hunger Games as a system of control. We explore how fear becomes ritual, how spectacle replaces accountability, and how extreme wealth and luxury insulate the powerful from the suffering that sustains their power.The episode closes by connecting Panem’s systems of control to the modern world, examining how narrative management, distraction, concentrated wealth, and entertainment continue to shape political authority today.Disclaimer: We Sided with the Rebellion is not affiliated with The Hunger Games, its author Suzanne Collins, Lionsgate, Scholastic, or any other company or entity associated with the franchise. All references are used for commentary, educational, and analytical purposes under fair use.Trump Thanksgiving Dinner Price Misleading – PolitiFact: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/nov/14/donald-trump/walmart-thanksgiving-grocery-prices-inflation/ PolitiFactTrump Thanksgiving Dinner Context – FactCheck.org: https://www.factcheck.org/2025/11/trump-serves-a-misleading-thanksgiving-meal-statistic/ FactCheck.orgAssociated Press on Thanksgiving Price Claim – AP: https://apnews.com/article/0005c70022b7701e0ec0531220673942 AP NewsThanksgiving Grocery Price Context – Investopedia: https://www.investopedia.com/thanksgiving-price-controversy-shows-why-we-need-indexes-like-the-cpi-11846970 InvestopediaBlack Friday & Economy Discussion – Adobe/Mastercard general reports (searchable keyword reports; no direct link available)Redistricting and Court Decisions – U.S. Supreme Court and Voting Rights Act case filings (searchable in public court records)Zohran Mamdani Election Data – Verified election results via NY election authoritiesThe Hunger Games (Books & Franchise Overview) – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games WikipediaPublication Timeline of Hunger Games Books – Scholastic press info: https://www.scholastic.com/newsroom/online-press-kits/hunger-games-series.html ScholasticMovies in The Hunger Games Franchise – Rotten Tomatoes guide: https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/hunger-games-movies-in-order/ Rotten Tomatoes EditorialFranchise Background & Timeline – Wikipedia (franchise page): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games_%28franchise%29 WikipediaBooks in Order (Publication) – Toppsta guide: https://toppsta.com/books/series/41582/the-hunger-games Toppsta
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