Dead Pundits Society
271 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago - ★★★★ - 239 ratingsForging a new left agenda in the midst of our neoliberal hellscape -- Join us weekly for the best news and analysis from a left perspective.
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Episodes
Teachers Strike Wave 2019: Denver Edition w/ Eric Blanc
February 14, 2019 19:40 - 1 hour - 54.5 MBJoining us this week is Eric Blanc, writer at Jacobin and The Nation as well as author of the upcoming book, Red State Revolt (Verso, 2019). We discuss the Denver teachers strike and place the latest blue state strikes into the context of the red state strikes of 2018. Next, we break down some of the challenges of collective bargaining and how these relate to the broader Democratic Socialist project, the Bernie Sanders wave, and the inside-outside strategy entailed by the democratic road to s...
Who's "Progressive" in 2020? w/ Daniel Marans [Teaser]
February 06, 2019 23:16 - 14 minutes - 27 MB***The following is a free preview of this week's B-Side. Join the Dead Pundits Society to hear the entire episode: www.patreon.com/deadpundits ** In this recording of DPS Radio, Adam is joined by Aimee Terese, Benjamin Studebaker, and Huffington Post writer Daniel Marans. We discuss the Woke Neoliberal Trio running for the Democratic primary for 2020 (i.e. Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker). Join us LIVE each week on the DPS YouTube channel on Thursday at 8pm EST for the fu...
The Weekly Rundown - Feb 04, 2019 - Assessing the Strike Wave
February 05, 2019 06:39 - 44 minutes - 35.8 MBIn the latest Weekly Rundown: A Podcast of News and Views from a Socialist Perspective, Adam and Aimee break down the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the latest teachers strike and discuss some of the state-level repression that the Red for Ed strike has received. *** This is a rare free preview of The Weekly Rundown, which is typically only available for patrons of the Dead Pundits Society. To hear this weekly news show, become a patron at the Weekly Rundown tier at: www.patreon.com/deadpun...
Ep. 92: Austerity and Class Agony: Writing the Crisis w/ Adam Rensch
January 31, 2019 06:46 - 1 hour - 75.5 MBJoining us this week to talk about the politics of working class culture and the question of "Millennial Burnout" is Adam Rensch, co-host of the stop/rewind podcast and PhD Candidate in English Literature at UIC. We open by discussing the cultural politics of the 1990s, then move into a comparison of a recent piece on so-called "Millennial Burnout" in Buzzfeed with Adam Rensch's treatment of the question of class, culture, and burnout. How will the exhaustion and despair wreaked by neoliber...
The Weekly Rundown - 01/27/19 - Teacher's Strikes, Clueless Billionaires, Venezuela & More [TEASER]
January 27, 2019 05:28 - 6 minutes - 5.47 MBOn the latest Weekly Rundown: A Podcast of News and Views from a Socialist Perspective, we discuss the latest news strike news in the education sector, the coup in Venezuela, the government shutdown, Brexit, and much more. *** This is a teaser of the full episode of the latest Weekly Rundown from Dead Pundits Society. To get the full episode, join the Society at www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** ---------------- Twitter: @deadpundits Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/deadpundits Facebook: facebo...
Ep. 90: Strike Wave 2019: Teachers Fight Back Against the Neoliberal Agenda
January 24, 2019 22:59 - 1 hour - 79.5 MBThis week's DPS Radio features a chat with Justin Kirkland, a rank and file UFT member and the MORE caucus in NYC, along with Justin Kirkland, rank and file teacher out of Denver, Colorado. We'll be discussing the Los Angeles teachers strike and a potential strike in Denver. Join us for the working class power hour! -Be sure to subscribe to the show on iTunes or your podcast catcher: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1212081214 -Join the Dead Pundits Society to receive weekly subscriber-only ...
Ep. 88: Riding the Corbyn Wave w/ Michael Walker
January 09, 2019 05:42 - 1 hour - 82.5 MBOn this week's A-Side, we're joined by UK socialist media presenter, Michael Walker, host of TyskySour and editor at Novara Media. This is a long and wide-ranging episode covering the formation and growth of Novara in the midst of the Corbyn wave, as well as Brexit and Britain's political future. Listeners in the U.S. will find this episode especially useful because we discuss the many parallels between Britain and the States in terms of building a lively socialist movement that is aimed at v...
Ep. 86: The ABCs of Capitalism w/ Vivek Chibber
January 02, 2019 19:49 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBJoining us for this week's A-Side is Vivek Chibber, editor of Catalyst journal and author of the ABCs of Capitalism series by Jacobin. We discuss the pamphlets, their purpose, and our role as socialists in the current political moment. Chibber is always full of critical insights -- don't miss them! Find out more about the ABCs of Capitalism here: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/11/introducing-the-abcs-of-capitalism Order the pamphlets here: https://jacobinmag.com/store/product/56 *** To s...
Ep. 84: The Politics of a Green New Deal w/ Matt Huber [UNLOCKED]
December 27, 2018 16:45 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBThis B-Side features an extended chat with Matt Huber, associate professor of geography at Syracuse University. We discuss the history of climate change politics and the promises, pitfalls, and demands of a Green New Deal as recently outlined by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among others. Matt's latest writings on the topic: -"Building a 'Green New Deal': Lessons From the Original New Deal," https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/4131-building-a-green-new-deal-lessons-from-the-orig...
The Weekly Rundown: A Podcast of News and Views from a Socialist Perspective - 12/23/18 [TEASER]
December 23, 2018 04:30 - 4 minutes - 6.28 MBThe latest Weekly Rundown has dropped for patrons at the $10+/month level. The following is a teaser of this episode. Topics of discussion include the latest government shutdown, Trump pulls out of Syria, a Texas teacher is fired for refusing to sign a BDS pledge, and House Democratic party leadership thwart AOC's attempts to form a select committee for a Green New Deal. To get access to the full Rundown, join the Dead Pundits Society at $10/ month. You'll get access to one Weekly Rundown e...
Ep. 85: Un-making Global Capitalism w/ Sam Gindin
December 20, 2018 22:38 - 1 hour - 92 MBSam Gindin joins us today for a 2-hour juggernaut of a chat about the fight against capitalism and the requirements of a successful socialist project. Sam worked with the Canadian Auto Workers for many decades before co-authoring many articles and books with Leo Panitch, one of which, The Making of Global Capitalism (Verso, 2012), won the Deutscher Prize. We discuss the nine pillars of a successful socialist movement outlined in his article from 2016 titled, “Un-making Global Capitalism.” A...
Ep. 84: The Politics of a Green New Deal w/ Matt Huber [TEASER]
December 18, 2018 22:25 - 9 minutes - 7.23 MB[This is a teaser of our latest B-Side. Join the Dead Pundits Society at www.patreon.com/deadpundits for full access] This B-Side features an extended chat with Matt Huber, associate professor of geography at Syracuse University. We discuss the history of climate change politics and the promises, pitfalls, and demands of a Green New Deal as recently outlined by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among others. Matt's latest writings on the topic: -"Building a 'Green New Deal': Les...
The Weekly Rundown - 12/16/18 [TEASER]
December 17, 2018 01:14 - 6 minutes - 8.38 MBThe first Weekly Rundown has dropped for patrons at the $10+/month level! The following is a teaser of this episode. This first episode is a loong one. Under consideration are a whole host of topics, from the Gillets Jaunes in France, to Pelosi's dealings, to the GOP anti-democratic travesty in Wisconsin -- it's all here. To get access to the full Rundown, join the Dead Pundits Society at $10/ month. You'll get access to one Weekly Rundown each week, as well as our B-Sides which come out eve...
Ep. 83: Russia With(out) Putin w/ Tony Wood
December 12, 2018 23:06 - 1 hour - 62.6 MBJoining us this week to discuss the realities of contemporary Russian politics is Tony Wood. Tony is the author of Russia Without Putin: Money, Power and the Myths of the New Cold War (2018, Verso) and on the editorial team at New Left Review. We discuss the Western myths of Putin as the great puppetmaster versus the realities of Russian political and economic development following the collapse of the Soviet Union. We wrap up the interview with a brief discussion of Russia-gate. Is Putin mani...
Ep. 82: Roadblocks to the Left's Success in Congress w/ David Dayen
December 06, 2018 21:23 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBJoining us this week to discuss some potential roadblocks for progressive and democratic socialist advance in Congress is journalist David Dayen. Adam opens the show with some extended reflections on the need for socialists to focus on the specifics of policy-making and how we should grapple with progressives. What does “progressive” mean? Are progressives our friends or enemies? Tune in to find out. The interview with David starts around [14:50]. Dayen’s article, “House Progressives Are Fac...
Ep. 81: Beto, No! w/ Branko Marcetic
December 05, 2018 07:19 - 1 hour - 67.9 MBJoining us this week to discuss the field of likely Democratic Party primary candidates for 2020 is Branko Marcetic, Prince Slayer and staff writer at Jacobin Magazine. We discuss his recent piece which argues that Beto O’Rourke is not the savior we’ve been looking for, and then move to a discussion of other names that have been floated in the past few weeks. Check out Branko’s piece here: -“Beto O’Rourke Should Not Run for President,” https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/12/beto-orourke-pres...
Ep. 80: Corbyn, SYRIZA, Sanders and Beyond w/ Leo Panitch
November 26, 2018 19:15 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBJoining us this week to discuss the socialist challenge today is Leo Panitch, author of many books and long-time editor of the Socialist Register. We begin by discuss the legitimacy crisis in UK politics brought on by the Brexit negotiations and then move to a conversations about the prospects of a Labour Party alternative in Britain that can face down the realities of austerity and neoliberal globalization. Finally, Leo assesses the SYRIZA failures and connects them to the dilemmas that will...
Ep. 79: Midterm Elections and Future Prospects w/ Daniel Marans
November 16, 2018 06:14 - 1 hour - 49.5 MBJoining us this week to talk about the recent midterm elections in the United States is Daniel Marans, journalist at Huffington Post. Daniel is fresh off the campaign trail, hitting stops in far-flung places in rural and urban America, alike. Adam sat down with Daniel and chatted about his experience of talking with voters and activists during his travels. What do we make of these election results? What does it signal for our activities leading up to 2020? Tune in to find out. *** This epis...
Ep. 78: Socialism, Youth, and Identity Crisis in the Russian Revolution w/ Sean Guillory
November 14, 2018 04:08 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBJoining us this week to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the October Revolution is Sean Guillory, host of Sean's Russia Blog Podcast. We begin by reflecting on the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution; Sean offers some insights about how we ought to remember those events. Next, we move on to a conversation about the founding and the culture of the Komsomol, or the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League, and how the in-fighting inside the group offers a lot of parallels to the ba...
Ep. 77: What Is "Normie" Socialism? (And What Isn't It?) [B-Side Teaser]
November 12, 2018 05:32 - 11 minutes - 16 MB*** This track is a teaser of this week's B-Side, which is available to patrons of the Dead Pundits Society. To listen to the entire episode, join at www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** In this juggernaut of a B-Side, Adam and Aimee begin by briefly breaking down the significance of the midterm election results. Next, they begin a wide-ranging discussion on the meaning of so-called "normie" socialism -- a term that has largely been crafted by opponents of this strategy. They break down two recen...
Ep. 76: Who's Afraid of Socialism? w/ Matt Bruenig
November 06, 2018 21:08 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBJoining us to talk about Trump's Council of Economic Advisor's ridiculous anti-socialism report is Matt Bruenig, founder of the People's Policy Project. We discuss the report titled, "The Opportunity Costs of Socialism," and address some of the rebuttals and cliches commonly wielded against broadly successful socialist societies. Who's afraid of socialism and why? Tune in to find out. Matt's latest response to the report can be found here: https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2018/11/05/t...
Ep. 75: Brazil and the Rise of Authoritarian Neoliberalism w/ Alex Hochuli
November 01, 2018 09:58 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBJoining us this week to talk about the election of far right Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil is Alex Hochuli, who lives in São Paulo and hosts the Aufhebungabunga podcast. We discuss the ruling class conspiracy that led to the fall of both Lula and Dilma of the Worker's Party (PT) and the failures of the neoliberal centrists in containing the crisis that they, themselves, created. Finally, we develop "neoliberal authoritarianism" as the neo-fascism of the 21st century. Check out some of Alex's rec...
Ep. 74: All Tomorrow's Socialisms w/ Amber A'Lee Frost
October 30, 2018 07:36 - 1 hour - 85.2 MBJoining us this week to talk about the need for socialized child-rearing and the glory of socialisms past is Amber A'Lee Frost. First, we explain why people like babies and make a robust argument for socialist solutions, rather than neoliberal solutions to feminist problems. Next, we move on to discussion of Amber's latest piece for The Baffler covering the Durham Miner's Gala. To get this entire discussion, you'll have to become a member of the Dead Pundits Society. Join today at patreon.com...
Ep. 73: Bernie Sanders' Foreign Policy Speech w/ Daniel Bessner
October 24, 2018 05:51 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBJoining us this week to break down Bernie Sanders' foreign policy speech is Daniel Bessner, Pyle Assistant Professor in American Foreign Policy at the University of Washington. We break down Bernie's speech delivered on October 9th and continue to build on the democratic socialist vision for foreign policy. What kind of platform should our candidates have going into 2020 and beyond? Tune in to find out. Articles mentioned during the show: -Daniel Bessner, "What Does Alexandria Ocasio-Cort...
Ep. 72: Liz Warren's One Flop of Blood [B-Side Teaser]
October 24, 2018 05:47 - 13 minutes - 18.2 MB*** This is a teaser from the B-Side this week. Join the patreon today to hear the entire conversation (which nearly spans 2 hours): www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** On this week's Patron-only B-Side, Adam and Aimee discuss the Elizabeth Warren fiasco and address some of the positions and critiques that have emerged over the past week. This case stands at the intersection of race essentialism and progressive/left politics which makes for the perfect subject matter for the Dead Pundits Society...
Ep 71: Socialize Finance! w/ Grace Blakeley
October 16, 2018 21:19 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBJoining us this week to discuss the dynamics of neoliberal finance (without boring the shit out of you) is Grace Blakeley. We open the show by talking about The World Transformed conference that took place in Liverpool a few weeks ago. Next, Adam and Grace discuss the development of financialization and unpack some of the challenges it produces for a socialist transition. These topics have become far more relevant in the wake of an impending Corbyn government in Britain. More finance for re...
Ep. 70: Checks Imbalances w/ Heidi Matthews
October 09, 2018 21:22 - 1 hour - 59.3 MBThis week's DPS was a live show. Our guest is Heidi Matthews, assistant professor at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Ontario. We addressed the Kavanaugh hearings and assessed the general discussion around the Supreme Court by lefties over the past several weeks. Heidi's article, "Why the Kavanaugh hearings were a show trial gone bad," can be found here: https://theconversation.com/why-the-kavanaugh-hearings-were-a-show-trial-gone-bad-102025 Other relevant pieces: -Sam Moyn, "Resisting ...
Ep. 69: The Public Sector Strikes Back with Joe Burns
October 02, 2018 20:12 - 49 minutes - 39.9 MBJoining us this week to talk about the rise of public sector unions via militant strike activity is Joe Burns, life-long union organizer and contract negotiator. We discuss his latest book, Strike Back: Using the Militant Tactics of Labor’s Past to Reignite Public Sector Unionism Today, and outline how the unlawful strikes of the 1960s and 70s provide a lesson for trade union organizing today. -Find Joe’s latest book here: http://igpub.com/strike-back/ -“Can Labor Strike Back?” https:/...
Ep. 67: [UNLOCKED] Zombies Mistaken for Identities w/ Adolph Reed, Jr.
September 27, 2018 18:21 - 1 hour - 142 MB*** Thanks to our patrons, this track has been unlocked so that it can be heard by all, free-of-charge. To support this effort, join the Dead Pundits Society at www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Joining us for this week's B-Side is Adolph Reed, Jr. Our wide-ranging discussion continues and deepens themes from the A-Side concerning debates that have cropped up over Asad Haider's MISTAKEN IDENTITY (Verso, 2018). We discuss the historical reality and political viability of many themes, including...
Ep. 68: From the Streets to the State w/ Paul Christopher Gray
September 26, 2018 00:43 - 1 hour - 83.3 MB***This is the free version of this week's A-Side. In order to get the full-length episode, head over to www.patreon.com/deadpundits and subscribe today*** On this week's A-Side, we speak with Paul Christopher Gray on the movement from protest to politics that has occurred over the past several years. His new edited collection, From the Streets to the State: Changing the World by Taking Power (SUNY Press, 2018), contains essays dealing with the pitfalls and challenges of taking socialist pol...
Ep. 67: Zombies Mistaken for Identities w/ Adolph Reed, Jr. [TEASER]
September 21, 2018 16:55 - 15 minutes - 20.9 MB*** This is a teaser of the B-Side from this week. Join the patreon today to hear the entire conversation (which nearly spans 2 hours): www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Joining us for this week's B-Side is Adolph Reed, Jr. Our wide-ranging discussion continues and deepens themes from the A-Side concerning debates that have cropped up over Asad Haider's MISTAKEN IDENTITY (Verso, 2018). We discuss the historical reality and political viability of many themes, including the so-called black rad...
Ep. 66: Don't Call It "Race and Class" w/ Adolph Reed, Jr.
September 18, 2018 05:29 - 1 hour - 53.4 MBJoining us this week to talk about the topic formerly known as "race and class" is Adolph Reed, Jr. We begin the episode by talking about Adolph's recent article, "The Trouble with Uplift" (https://thebaffler.com/salvos/the-trouble-with-uplift-reed), and the phony racial politics of Driving Miss Daisy and The Help. We also explain why Glory and The Free State of Jones are among the best films ever made in the U.S. Next, we take on the "race and class" industrial complex by offering some cr...
Ep 65: A Socialist Foreign Policy w/ Daniel Bessner [TEASER]
September 13, 2018 04:57 - 7 minutes - 10.4 MB[This is a teaser of this week's subscriber-only B-Side. To get access to this episode and all of our subscriber-only content, go to www.patreon.com/deadpundits and join the Dead Pundits Society today] On this week's B-Side, Daniel Bessner joins us once again to discuss what a socialist foreign policy might look like. He reminds us that anti-imperialism is a principle, not a policy. Thus, socialists must get serious about what kinds of policies will lead to a more egalitarian world in the sh...
Ep. 64: The Deep, Deep State w/ Daniel Bessner
September 11, 2018 08:51 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBJoining us this week is Daniel Bessner, Assistant Professor in International Studies at the University of Washington, to talk about the rise of defense intellectuals and the deep, deep state. We begin the episode with a discussion of Facebook's partnership with the Atlantic Council and its role in censoring media across the Global South. Next, we move on to a discussion about the history of Hans Speier, a German exile and former socialist who helped found the liberal foreign policy think tank...
Ep. 63: DSA's Endorsement of Cynthia Nixon w/ Susan Kang and Michael Cavadias
August 14, 2018 07:22 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBJoining us this week to discuss the process around NYC DSA’s endorsement of Cynthia Nixon for the Democratic Party primary race in New York state are two members in NYC-DSA leadership, Susan Kang and Michael Cavadias. We discuss the various meanings of endorsement as well as the debates that emerged around these various and competing visions. Additionally, we discuss the role of accountability and the problematic relationship of the Democratic Party and socialist candidates. Whether you wer...
Ep. 62: [B-Side Teaser] More like Electoral Poli-tricks, Amirite?
August 14, 2018 07:13 - 12 minutes - 9.66 MB***This is a teaser of last week's B-Side. To get access to our second, subscriber-only show each week, head over to www.patreon.com/deadpundits and join the Dead Pundits Society for $5/month*** On this week’s B-Side, Adam and Aimee foreground next week’s A-Side by discussing the Cynthia Nixon endorsement and the various arguments for and against left progressive politicians being endorsed by socialist organizations. Next, they move on to a rowdy assessment of a series of opinion pieces post...
Ep. 61: The Democratic Road to Socialism w/ Ed Rooksby
August 08, 2018 19:00 - 1 hour - 49.2 MBThis episode continues and deepens our discussion with Ed Rooksby from last week. Although it was recorded as a B-Side for our patrons, we decided that it was too good to be parked behind a paywall, so we made it available for all. We open the episode by outlining the legacy of the Second International and the reformist road to socialism. Next, we contrast the pitfalls of that period with the strategies of dual power being offered by socialists today. Nicos Poulantzas's "The Democratic Road t...
Ep. 60: Socialism, Leninism, and Dual Power w/ Ed Rooksby
August 03, 2018 16:39 - 1 hour - 80.4 MBBack on the Dead Pundits Society is Ed Rooksby, who teaches politics at Ruskin College. This behemoth of an episode tackles some of the most pressing questions facing socialists today: what do we mean by a socialist transition and what are some of the historical examples? We tackle the myth and reality of "dual power" and compare it with the prospects of a democratic road to socialism. This episode is dense, but the pay-off is enormous. Listen up and take notes -- this is Rooksbyism for the...
Ep. 59: B-Side Q&A Extravaganza [TEASER]
July 30, 2018 22:38 - 12 minutes - 17.8 MB[This is a free preview of our full-length Patreon episode for the week. Subscribe for $5/month at www.patreon.com/deadpundits for full access] Adam and Aimee answer a number of questions from listeners on this week's B-Side. Are we optimistic or pessimistic about the chances of socialism? Why do vulgar socialists have better game? Who are our biggest influences? What can socialists with "real world" knowledge in capitalist industries do to further the cause? All of your queries on life, lo...
Ep. 58: Socialism and the Right to Strike w/ Alex Gourevitch
July 24, 2018 20:32 - 1 hour - 63 MBJoining us to discuss the socialist right to strike is Alex Gourevitch, author of "A Radical Defense of the Right to Strike," among many other articles and books. (https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/07/right-to-strike-freedom-civil-liberties-oppression) Before the interview, Adam and Aimee open the show with a celebration of neoliberal achievement -- you won't want to miss this monumental occasion. General topics under consideration include: Is there a socialist right to strike? How does it d...
Ep. 57: [UNLOCKED] The Left is Not a Church w/ Benjamin Studebaker
July 20, 2018 22:01 - 1 hour - 56.9 MBOn this episode, which has been unlocked from the Patreon vault due to popular demand, Benjamin Studebaker talks with us about the tendency of leftists to view politics as the truest expression of one's soul rather than a method of leveraging structures to change the world. Studebaker traced this impulse in a series of blog posts a few months ago, and we'll unpack those arguments for our Patrons in this episode. Find relevant blog posts here: -"The Left is Not a Church," https://benjaminstud...
Ep. 56: The Meaning of Democratic Socialism w/ Benjamin Studebaker
July 13, 2018 23:52 - 1 hour - 75.2 MBWhat is the meaning of Democratic Socialism? In the wake of both Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s primary victory and Cynthia Nixon’s claim that she identifies as a democratic socialist, activists and political actors of all stripes are circling the wagons as they attempt to carve out the meaning on democratic socialism. Joining us this week to hash out these questions is Benjamin Studebaker, a PhD student in Politics at Cambridge University, whose blog pieces claiming that “the left is not a churc...
Ep. 55: Janus Trap House & the So-Called White Working Class w/ Laura Bucci
July 05, 2018 22:08 - 1 hour - 85.1 MBJoining us this week to talk about the real composition of the so-called “white working class” is Laura Bucci, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Saint Joseph's University. Adam and Aimee start off the show with some reflections on our political moment as well as some critical advice for dealing with naughty kangaroos. In the interview, we cover a large variety of topics, from the nature of the white working class, the decline in union density, how to measure vo...
Ep34B: [UNLOCKED] B-Side - Democrats and the Left w/ Adam Hilton
June 28, 2018 18:33 - 55 minutes - 101 MBIn the wake of the exciting primary victory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others like her across the country, the question of a socialist-progressive electoral alliance is back on the table in a big way. In this unlocked B-Side from 2017, Adam Hilton discusses the tactic of using the Democratic Party ballot line to elect socialists and progressives in order to build working class power inside the capitalist state. For all the patrons and regular listeners out there, Adam (host) is still on...
Ep. 54: UK Momentum and Corbyn's Labour Party w/ Max Shanly
June 20, 2018 06:27 - 1 hour - 72 MBJoining us this week to talk about the monumental rise of Jeremy Corbyn and the role played by Momentum is Max Shanly, co-host of All the Best podcast for Novara Media. We discuss Max’s life on the UK left and his insider's perspective on the rise of Corbyn to Labour Party leadership. Additionally, Max shares some stories about his brief friendship with Tony Benn and the story of the formation of Momentum, which has played a pivotal role in turning Britain to the left. -All the Best Podca...
Ep. 53: Vampire Sand Castles / Listener Q&A [TEASER]
June 08, 2018 21:12 - 24 minutes - 33.8 MB[This is a free preview of our full-length Patreon episode for the week. Subscribe for $5/month at www.patreon.com/deadpundits for full access] On this week's B-Side, we address listener questions. Topics include the Vampire Castle and the left today, leaving Twitter, and assessing the strengths of political arguments. Tune in for all the spiciest takes. ***Join the Dead Pundits Society and get access to weekly subscriber-only episodes and a back catalog of B-Sides from Season 1 of the pod...
Ep. 52: Beyond Human Rights w/ Samuel Moyn
June 06, 2018 09:26 - 1 hour - 66.4 MBJoining us this week is Samuel Moyn, professor of law and history at Yale University. We discuss his new book, Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World (2018, Belknap) and we outline a path towards moving beyond the limitations of liberal human rights. -What *are* human rights? Are they worth defending? What should socialists say about them? Tune in to find out. Towards the end of the interview, Aimee and Sam discuss his article on Steven Pinker, “Hype for the Best,” https://newrepubli...
Ep. 51: Socialists and Electoral Politics w/ Daniel Marans [Patreon Teaser]
May 31, 2018 20:19 - 18 minutes - 25.3 MB[This is a free preview of our full-length Patreon episode for the week. Subscribe for $5/month at www.patreon.com/deadpundits for full access] In the wake of primary victories for open socialists in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, Daniel Marans joins me to discuss the electoral prospects of the left going into 2018 and beyond. We discuss those primary victories and the challenges faced by socialists and progressives running on the Democratic Party ballot line. Find Daniel's most relevant arti...
Ep. 50: Moving Beyond Civil Rights & Anti-Discrimination w/ Richard T. Ford
May 29, 2018 21:20 - 1 hour - 70.2 MBJoining us this week is Richard Thompson Ford, a legal scholar at Stanford Law and author of many books on race and discrimination. Building on the themes of our Anti-Essentialism Series, we discuss the limitations of anti-discrimination law and the flawed tendency to naturalize race as “culture.” We talk about the Dolezal effect, cultural appropriation, the nature of law, and much more. You can find most of Richard’s work linked on his personal website: http://richardtford.law.stanford.edu...
Ep32B [Unlocked]: A Life on the Socialist Left w/ Leo Panitch
May 25, 2018 17:35 - 1 hour - 86.4 MBThis B-Side with Leo Panitch from Fall of 2017 is so good that we've decided to unlock it for all to enjoy. In this interview, I sat down with Leo Panitch to ask what it means to be a socialist intellectual. He reflects on his 50 years on the left, and shares stories about Ralph Miliband, Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn and many others. We were inspired to unlock this B-Side after hearing an excellent interview w/ Leo on All the Best Podcast. Check it out here: https://soundcloud.com/novaramedia/a...