Ep 4. Control the Truth

As a warning, this synopsis may contain some disturbing imagery or historical events.

In How to Become a Tyrant season 1 episode 4, titled "Control the Truth," the focus is on how a tyrant's manipulation of communication and information can help them maintain power. Hosted by Peter Dinklage, the episode uses various examples from history to show how tyrants use propaganda, censorship, and manipulation to control the narrative and rewrite history to their advantage.

The episode begins by examining how ancient Egyptian pharaohs established their god-like status through monumental statues and temples that glorified them as divine beings. From there, the focus shifts to Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, who used propaganda to manipulate the masses and create cults of personality. The show details how Hitler's propaganda machine, led by Joseph Goebbels, created films, posters, and rallies to project an image of him as the savior of the German people. Likewise, Stalin's reign was characterized by severe censorship and purges, with millions of people executed or sent to gulags for speaking out against him.

Throughout the episode, Dinklage narrates how these tyrants maintained their grip on power by controlling access to information. For instance, Kim Jong-il, became the leader of North Korea after Kim Il-sung's death in 1994, and he perpetuated his father's personality cult with propaganda and strict censorship. The episode then quickly shifts to Saddam Hussein, who controlled Iraq's media to suppress opposition and depict himself as a benevolent leader who protected the country from foreign forces.

The central theme of this episode is that tyrants rewrite history and manipulate facts to fit their narrative. They do this by controlling the media, which is essential to shaping public opinion. Joseph Stalin is a key example of this, as he actively changed the past to retain power. The show details Stalin's purges and how he controlled the Soviet Union's media to portray him as a wise and just leader while painting his critics as enemies of the state. The episode also touches on the 2001 release of 1984, a dystopian novel in which the government manipulates the truth to maintain control.

Overall, "Control the Truth" examines how authoritarian rulers use mass media to control their people and their narrative. The episode is thought-provoking and informative, but it may be difficult to watch due to its graphic content, including footage of atrocities committed by various regimes. Throughout the episode, Dinklage's narration is searing and powerful, highlighting how the manipulation of propaganda remains a constant threat to freedom and democracy.