NPR Code Switch Examines the United States’ Imperial Legacy

NPR Code Switch released a May 25 2026 episode titled “How often do you think about the American empire?” Host Gene Demby interviews historian Daniel Immerwahr, author of *How to Hide an Empire*. The discussion examines why Americans rarely view their nation as a colonial power and how President Trump’s recent military actions affect global order. Production credits list Leah Donnella (editor), Liam McBain (additional production), Cher Vincent (supervising producer), and Yolanda Sangweni (VP of programming).

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Immerwahr argues that the United States has practiced empire building for centuries, employing subtler methods than earlier powers; he describes this approach as “sneakier.” He contends that this long-term pattern underlies current debates about American power, suggesting that the empire’s hidden mechanisms have persisted even as public perception downplays them.

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The episode features historian Daniel Immerwahr and host Gene Demby; NPR Code Switch provides the platform.

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The episode’s promotional copy frames two core questions: whether the American empire is in decline and whether recent policies signal a shift toward a more expansive form of empire. It also characterizes President Trump’s international actions as disrupting the global order, positioning his military decisions as a catalyst for re-examining U.S. global influence.

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Observers cited in the episode’s description express concern that President Trump’s recent military actions could represent an overt shift toward empire, interpreting the question “are we going full empire?” as a skeptical challenge to the administration’s foreign-policy approach. They argue that such moves may depart from the historically “sneaky” tactics described by Immerwahr, suggesting a more visible form of expansion.

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• “How often do you think about the American Empire?” — NPR Code Switch promotional text

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• “toggle caption Jackie Lay/NPR Is the American empire in decline?” — NPR Code Switch promotional text

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• “are we going full empire?” — NPR Code Switch promotional text

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• “In this episode from our friends at Code Switch, host Gene Demby is joined by Daniel to break down why we don’t really think of ourselves as a colonial power – and how President Trump's international escapades are scrambling the global order.” — Gene Demby (as described)

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The episode suggests that limited public awareness of America’s imperial past shapes contemporary foreign-policy debates, prompting listeners to reconsider assumptions about the United States’ position in the world order. It directs audiences to additional Code Switch investigations, including “The human labor that makes AI work” and “Canada hates us, but it’s not all Trump’s fault,” signaling an ongoing series that examines topics such as AI labor and U.S.–Canada relations.

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