Trevor Aaronson, AMERICAN ISIS

Presented in partnership with The Intercept and Topic Studios.
American ISIS, a new Audible Original documentary podcast hosted by Trevor Aaronson, 2020 ASU Future Security Fellow, tells the story of Russell Dennison, an American who converted to Islam and traveled to Syria to fight for the Islamic State. For more than six months, Russell secretly communicated with journalist Aaronson, sending more than 30 hours of recordings that detail his suburban upbringing, his pursuit by the FBI, his embrace of extremism, and his decision to live and die on distant battlefields. Russell’s recordings provide an unprecedented firsthand account of what it was like for an American to be part of one of the world’s most fearsome terrorist groups.
A remarkable work of journalism and narrative storytelling, American ISIS brings listeners into a hidden world few Americans have witnessed - filled with jihadis, human smugglers, FBI agents, government informants, and nightly bombings. Aaronson, a contributing writer for The Intercept, tracks down the people who knew Russell in the United States and in the Middle East as he investigates and corroborates Russell’s incredible story, from his childhood in Pennsylvania to bombed-out Syrian villages thousands of miles from the life he’d once known. American ISIS is produced by The Intercept and Topic Studios.
Join the New America Fellows Program, the International Security Program, Trevor Aaronson, and Candace Rondeaux, for a conversation about American ISIS.
Follow the conversation online using #AmericanISIS and follow us at @NAFellows.
Click here to learn more and listen to the first episode of AMERICAN ISIS.
Speakers:
Trevor Aaronson, @trevoraaronson
2020 Future Security Fellow, New America
Host and creator, American ISIS
Candace Rondeaux, @CandaceRondeaux
Director, Future Frontlines, New America
Professor of Practice, Arizona State University
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[@dylanthuong2600]

What drives him to where he is? Lack of self worth . Lack of identity. Lack of belongings. Lost of direction.

[@krimo5700]

Not only that, but acknowledging those things and trying to fix them.

[@killuminatianonymous5551]

47:33 I was so happy he answered that because I was thinking the same thing about having sympathy.

[@killuminatianonymous5551]

I always wonder if he joined in the beginning as a freedom fighter. Fast forward all those years and it’s either so or die. They’ll kill him if he tries to flee so he mine as well still fight., 6 years in is long to be alive in a war. I guess when you report to a top leader you live longer. I just wonder if he had a change of heart or didn’t believe 100% he was fighting for a different cause.

[@illeagle9560]

He left the US because the FBI was watching him for making youtube videos about people in the US having no religion and the Muslims here being fake Muslims and such. Then arrested his friend, which made him decide he would be next then left to Egypt and traveled around after being arrested in basically every Muslim nation, so he thought ISIS maybe could have been the answer to living "his form of Islam"

[@QuintinMassey]

Well he’s dead now. Good riddance.

[@CornellD.Cavendish]

As passe as it sounds I can’t help but think this guy could have found many better answers in reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X

[@krimo5700]

Good comment!

[@maverick744]

You know, you hear those who oppose america and what we stand for and vocally state they hate this country and then they usually get the “well if you hate this country leave”.. which they never do because deep down they know how lucky and privileged they are to live and be American. This is one instance that the dude bounced and for that as much as I hate what ISIS stands for I give him his respect. He evidently hated the freedom he had and did his thing. That takes Shaquille O’Neil size balls.. can’t say he didn’t know what he was in for..

[@malikwatson3412]

Exactly what does America stand for are you informed on what America has done globally

[@every1bleedsthesame809]

He literally left because he said we have no God here he is kinda right

[@CornellD.Cavendish]

And grew an epic beard.

[@krimo5700]

@@CornellD.Cavendish lol what is this comment! XD

[@sayedahmad9209]

Hated the freedom lol the delusion! He hated the godlessness, the paganism, satanism, hedonism, porn (sexual enslavement of Americans by Americans), feminism, consumerism (economic enslavement + usury), greed, spread of corruption in the land by the liars who claim to spread peace but are too insolent and ignorant to see it! He found something bigger, pure, meaningful, cohesive, truthful, the truth, natural and something that gives happiness and the ultimate victory in this life and the hereafter.

[@eastonbiggs10]

Did his wife and children ever come to America?

[@fabianospersona9547]

He says you know so much haha

[@Jenvlogs404]

There’s a name for it gin ger jee hadie

[@tommyagro444]

Wasted life.

[@DilbagSingh-sp2yp]

That's really sad, "wasted life"

[@justsamantha1833]

Not to him, and that's all that matters. Least he had the courage to get up and go thru what he truly believed in

[@eastonbiggs10]

Did his wife and kids ever come to America?

[@oyay2821]

Yes they did

[@Ricky-jk7wl]

@@oyay2821 how do u know that?

[@lovesallanimals9948]

​@@oyay2821 should have left them there

[@sarahtara5546]

@@lovesallanimals9948 You love all animals but not innocent women and children apparently. Sicko

[@اماليتامه-ز9غ]

السلام عليكم ورحمه الله وبركاته انا اختكم من سوريا مهجره من بلادي واسكن في مخيمات ⛺اللجوء على حدود تركيا ويوجد عندي خمس بنات وزوجي في السجن⛓️ النظام لا اعلم عنه شيء صار له بالسجن ثلاث سنين و انا اطلب منكم العوز ومن مال ربي هل من منكم يساعدني لوجه😔 الله تعالى من يريد يساعدني اسال الله ان يفتح له ابواب السماء الرزق ويحفظ واولاده يا رب ومن يريد يساعدني لوجه الله يترك رقمه في التعليق وانا احكي معكم

[@MarcusLB1998]

Bless you❤

[@robdog7915]

what?