Get access to The Backroom (80+ EXCLUSIVE episodes): https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeGiven there is some confusion regarding my positions on immigration, I decided to release the BACKROOM exclusive episode (originally supposed to be for Patrons only) that I did with Benjamin Studebaker (Cambridge, and author of the Chronic Crisis of American Democracy) all on the subject of immigration,—what both the left and right get wrong, and what leftists & liberals don't understand about the rise of the far-right in Europe. This episode is a heavy one! The conversation delves into the complexities of immigration and why the left needs a better response to mass migration and how the far-right captured many working class people across the world. We address topics such as the assimilation, social cohesion, demographic change, brain drain, declining bargaining power, and the socio-economic impacts of immigration, globalization, and neoliberalism more broadly. The dialogue also touches on the challenges and necessities of having an open discourse on immigration without falling into binary thinking ideological trap.Timestamps: 00:00 How Leftists and and Liberals Often Respond to immigration04:25 Social Cohesion and Integration12:55 Brain Drain and Economic Imperialism 18:46 Assimilation Challenges30:58 Modern Immigration Policies45:21 European Union and Migration55:07 Racism, Xenophobia and tribalism56:05 Trust and Integration in Multi-Ethnic Societies58:27 Leftist and Liberal Perspectives on Immigration01:05:22 Cosmopolitanism vs. Localism01:24:09 The Role of the Professional Managerial Class (PMC)01:34:45 Technocratic Mindset and Immigration01:39:58 Its about more than "Living Standards"01:41:45 Internationalism and Globalism Critique01:45:39 Managerialism in Progressivism01:52:14 Challenges of Assimilation and Immigration02:27:13 Climate Change and Refugee Crisis02:28:31 Concluding Thoughts on Political DiscourseGUEST:Benjamin Studebaker — political theorist; author of Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies and The Chronic Crisis of Liberal Democracy.• Website: https://benjaminstudebaker.com/about/• Follow Benjamin Studebaker on X: https://x.com/BMStudebakerFOLLOW 1Dime: • Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime • X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial • Instagram: / tonyof1dime• Check out my main channel videos: / @1dimeeCheck out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee.Outro Music by Karl Casey. Leave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.
Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon.com/onedimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I have an in-depth discussion with Ross Wolfe about neo-Stalinism. We examine the influence of Domenico Losurdo, and how his work relates to a niche defence of Marxism-Leninism. We take up the concepts of state power and revolution, and how the history of liberalism is often misinterpreted by modern activists. In the Backroom on Patreon, Ross Wolfe and I explore just what is “Western Marxism.” Is there a widely agreed upon definition? To do this, Wolfe and I have to unpack its origins, and the polemics by Losurdo, Gabriel Rockhill and others. We try to pin down the line between socialistic critique of capitalism, and simple anti-Western sentiment.TimeStamps: 00:00 Losurdo and Rockhill The (Backroom Sneak Peek) 03:48 Critique of Neo-Stalinism and Marxism-Leninism 06:29 The Influence of Dominico Losurdo 47:23 Historical Inaccuracies in Losurdo's Work 51:14 Trotsky's Legacy and Stalin's Tactics 01:01:21 Debating Marxism, Communism, and State PowerGuest (Ross Wolfee): X/Twitter: https://x.com/rosswolfe?lang=enFind His Articles on Losurdo here: https://thecharnelhouse.org/author/rosslaurencewolfe/FOLLOW 1Dime: • Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime • X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial • Instagram: / tonyof1dime• Check out my main channel videos: / @1dimeeOutro Music by Karl Casey. Leave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.
Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I have a provocative discussion with a much-requested guest, Vivek Chibber. Chibber is a professor and published writer (Catalyst and Jacobin). We discuss the state of the left today, and whether recent elections mark meaningful shifts in socialist political organizing. We also cover the challenges of building working-class support amidst the rise and conflicting interests of white collar professionals. The conversation touches on political compromise, and the influence of post-colonial theory in academia. In the Backroom exclusive segment on Patreon, Vivek Chibber and I specifically discuss Zohran Mamdani and his recent election. Will he and the DSA political strategy be enough to ensure a sustainable rise of socialism? Timestamps:0:00 Understanding Democratic Socialism and Traditional Socialism03:28 The Crisis of the Left: Organizational and Intellectual Weakness07:18 Rebuilding the Left: Strategies for Organizing Workers33:50 The Left's Relationship with Small Business Owners and Farmers35:16 Voting Patterns and Class Interests44:13 The Decline of Traditional Left-Wing Parties56:41 Defining Capitalism and Socialism59:05 Transition to The BackroomGUEST:Vivek Chibber, professor of sociology and author of Confronting Capitalism: How the World Works and How to Change It. You can also follow Chibber’s work in the publications Catalyst and Jacobin.FOLLOW 1Dime:Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyof1dime...Check out my main channel videos: / @1dimeeOutro Music by Karl CaseyLeave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this
Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I sit down with philosopher Isabel Millar, author of The Psychoanalysis of Artificial Intelligence, to think through ChatGPT and large language models using psychoanalysis. We get into Lacan and the Real, Symbolic, and Imaginary. Freud on repression and desire. Žižek on ideology and enjoyment. Then we push these ideas onto LLMs, from “hallucinations” and fantasy, to whether machines can “want,” to Big Other dynamics, creativity, safety, and the politics around AI.In The Backroom on Patreon, Isabel and I talk about love in the age of Artificial Intelligence, AI girlfriends, sexbots, and how OnlyFans and prostitution relate to the psychoanalytic understanding of Sexuality itself, which is different from the conventional understanding of sex. Timestamps:00:00:00 Sexbotification, AI Girlfriends, & more (The Backroom Preview)00:03:55 The Importance of Psychoanalysis, Lacan & Freud00:14:45 The Stupidity of Intelligence, The Unconscious, Drive vs Desire00:20:43 Can AI "think"? Can AI "enjoy"? Desire, Lack & Enjoyment00:45:43 Can AI become "Conscious" according to Psychoanalysis? 00:54:56 Are ChatGPT and large language models becoming a 'Big Other' or an oracle of authority?01:04:52 Can AI be creative or "original" in the psychoanalytic sense?01:13:43 Love in The Age of Artificial IntelligenceGUEST:Isabelle Millar, philosopher, author of The Psychoanalysis of Artificial Intelligence• Website: https://www.isabelmillar.com/FOLLOW 1Dime:• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyof1dime• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro Music by Karl Casey.Leave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.
Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined again by Professor Catherine Liu, author of the book Virtue Horders, to talk about the recent victory of Zohran Mamdani, the crisis of the Democratic Party, liberalism as ideology of decay, and her upcoming book on Trauma Culture and why everyone in liberal America suddenly identifies as “traumatized” and how that shapes politics, morality, and everyday life.In the Backroom exclusive segment on Patreon, Catherine and I discuss the potential impact of AI on the PMC (Professional Managerial Class), liberal parenting, and have a lot of fun roasting liberal-leftists. Timestamps:00:00:00 AI and white collar layoffs (The Backroom Preview) 00:03:06 Catherine Liu returns 00:03:49 Zohran Mamdani’s victory Analysis: Lessons for Leftists00:29:44 The Tucker Carlson Left00:37:05 Is the Left Becoming Less Woke?00:40:30 Trauma culture, therapy speak, and New Age Capitalism00:50:10 Liberalism as ideology of decay00:58:27 From second-wave feminism to PMC “girlboss” feminism01:02:04 Socialist feminism, PMC feminism, and family policy01:07:58 Liberal parenting, mental illness, and the crisis of adulthoodGUEST:Catherine Liu, professor of film and media studies at UC Irvine and author of Virtue Hoarders and an upcoming book on trauma culture• Follow Catherine’s work and lectures via UC Irvine and her public talks onlineFOLLOW 1Dime:• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyof1dime/?hl=en&g=5• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro Music by Karl CaseyLeave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.
Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined again by regular guest Benjamin Studebaker, political theorist and PhD from University of Cambridge to break down everything you need to know about Venezuela. In the public episode, Studebaker and I break down the situation in Venezuela, US aggression, and unpack the history of Venezuela as a case study of petrostates and Why Nations Fail while others get rich. We also analyze Trump’s regime change ambitions and the risk of war, the rise and unraveling of Chávez and Maduro, the oil curse that wrecked Venezuelan socialism, and why so many post-colonial petrol states get trapped between getting rich and falling apart. Along the way, we break down how nations really become wealthy or fail, debunk popular myths about development and decolonization, and map the structural traps that still ensnare countries in the Global South.In The Backroom exclusive episode on Patreon, we discuss the limits of anti-imperialist politics, Israel-Palestine, and the tragic legacy of decolonization in Africa, then dive into more niche political theory debates where I introduce Ben to my early ideas about “The Will and the Spirit” and debate the question of political influence and what we can actually DO to change anything. Timestamps:00:00:00 The Backroom Preview: Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism00:06:27 WTF is Happening Between Venezuela and the USA? 00:08:35 Petrol states 101, Dutch Disease, and US Sanctions00:22:48 War Powers and the Imperial Presidency00:30:33 Hugo Chávez, the Bolivarian Revolution, and Maduro00:35:28 Hyperinflation, Corruption, and the Militocracy Trap00:44:02 Libya, and The New Regime-Change Playbook00:49:21 The Guyana border crisis00:55:09 Gulf monarchies, migrant underclasses, and “successful” petrol states00:59:26 Trump’s military build-up and scenarios for a Venezuela war01:06:47 Eastern Europe democratization vs Middle East Interventions 01:17:17 Cartels, Mexico, Argentina, and the Latin American security order01:35:07 The Truth about Maduro and Venezuelan democracy01:50:03 Pseudo-activity and limits of anti-imperialist activism 01:54:09 Palestine, anti-imperialism, and what counts as politics (The Backroom Transition)GUEST:Benjamin Studebaker - political theorist, PhD in Politics from the University of Cambridge.• Substack: https://bmstudebaker.substack.com/ • Blog: https://benjaminstudebaker.com • X/Twitter: https://x.com/BMStudebaker FOLLOW 1Dime• Substack (Articles and Essays):** https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime •X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyof1dimeigsh=MWNuMjhpMHoxbHBwZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr • Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee Outro Music by Karl CaseyLeave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.
Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon): https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of the 1Dime Radio podcast, I interview Yves Engler, “Canada’s Noam Chomsky” - an activist, academic who ran for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of Canada (The NDP). We discuss the problems with the NDP today (and when it was under the leadership of Jagmeet, Layton, and Mulcair), and Yves’s vision of radical democratic socialism. In The Backroom, Yves and I debate his controversial takes on NATO, the Russia–Ukraine war, and Canadian foreign policy. Become a Patron at Patreon.com/OneDimeTimestamps:0:01 The Backroom Preview (debate on NATO/Ukraine/Russia)5:15 Why Yves Engler is Running for the NDP8:16 Jagmeet Singh/leadership discussion12:22 Problems with the NDP and alternative proposals32:58 Solution to Housing Crisis & Affordability41:06 NDP–Liberal agreement1:15:33 Healthcare, Pharmacare, Dental1:44:14 NATO/Ukraine/Russia Debate (The Backroom)GUEST:Yves Engler — Canadian author & activist; critic of Canadian foreign policy; NDP leadership hopeful. • Website: https://yvesengler.com • X/Twitter: https://x.com/EnglerYves • NDP leadership: https://yvesforndpleader.ca FOLLOW 1Dime:• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/tonyof1dime• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro Music by Karl CaseyLeave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.Tags: #NDP #CanadaPolitics #DemocraticSocialism #YvesEngler #1DimeRadio #NATO #Ukraine #Housing #Pharmacare #Labour
Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined by Conrad Hamilton for a debate on the big questions: Is Marxism still relevant? Is Marxism-Leninism a failed ideology—or are critics misreading its history and aims? Most of all, we DEBATE the history of Communism (Marxist-Leninist governments like USSR, China, Cuba, and Vietnam), and whether the paths communists took were "inevitable." In The Backroom (on Patreon), Conrad and I continue the debate on the history of Marxism-Leninism, where things get... a bit heated (in a comradely way). Become a Patron at Patreon.com/OneDimeTimestamps:00:00 Actually Existing Socialism Debate01:50 Is Marxism Still Relevant? 15:56 China, Vietnam, vs the Eastern Bloc37:40 Leninism & Vanguardism47:22 The Family & Gender 48:24 Collectivization vs China's Development Model53:34 Markets Under Socialism?01:02:37 The Socialist Transition Debates01:13:59 The Role of Religion in Marxist Movements01:21:05 Identity Politics vs. Class-Based Organizing01:25:17 Social Democracy vs Marxism-Leninism vs Democratic Socialism01:36:40 Historical Lessons from Socialist Movements01:52:42 Reflections on Socialist Governance02:03:03 Conclusion & The Backroom TransitionGUEST:Conrad Hamilton — postdoctoral research fellow (East China Normal University); co-author of Myth & Mayhem: A Leftist Critique of Jordan Peterson; contributor to Flowers for Marx.• X/Twitter: https://x.com/bongardconrad • Flowers for Marx book (Revol Press): https://www.revolpress.com/flowers on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Flowers-Marx-Ben-Burgis/dp/952654594XFOLLOW 1Dime:• My Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro Music by Karl CaseyLeave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.
Get access to The Backroom (75+ exclusive episodes of 1Dime Radio) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined again by regular guest Benjamin Studebaker—we now have a monthly show together. We break down Trump’s Gaza plan: what it is, which countries are involved and what incentives they have (Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United States), and whether Israel will actually abide by it. We then weigh the pros and cons and tackle the long-term question re: What would be a better resolution to the Israel-Palestine Conflict—a two-state solution or a one-state solution? How would either work? Is it realistic over the long run, and what would it take to get there?In The Backroom (on Patreon), Benjamin and I have a nuanced discussion on immigration—what the left gets wrong, and what leftists & liberals don't understand about the rise of the far-right in Europe. Timestamps00:00 The Backroom Sneak Peek04:07 Trump’s Gaza Plan Breakdown08:12 Tony Blair's Role, The New Plan Vs the Mara Gaza Proposal 14:24 Hamas, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, & Saudi Arabia20:48 The Role of Other States in the Region27:22 Motives of European Union Countries and Refugee Management36:24 The Future of Israel-Palestine: Two-State vs One-State Solution55:15 Why Countries (Aside from the US) Still Support Israel 01:29:27 Third Worldism and Global Capitalism01:37:05 Conclusion & Backroom preview (immigration)GUEST:Benjamin Studebaker — political theorist, PHD at Cambridge University, author of Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies and The Chronic Crisis of Liberal Democracy.• Website: https://benjaminstudebaker.com/about/• Follow Benjamin Studebaker on X: https://x.com/BMStudebakerFOLLOW 1Dime:• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro Music by Karl CaseyLeave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this
Get access to The Backroom (75+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeChris Cutrone— “the last Marxist”—returns to 1Dime Radio to discuss his “Campaign for a Socialist Party” and lays out, in plain terms, what it would actually take to build a socialist party today. In The Backroom on Patreon, Chris and I discuss the distinction between Socialism vs Communism and why we both have always rejected the “Communist” label. We also discuss how Chris’s views on Trump changed in the past year, Geopolitics and where modern “anti-imperialism” goes wrong.Timestamps00:00 The Backroom Preview01:16 Democratic Socialism vs. Social Democracy03:21 Campaign for a Socialist Party12:24 The Bernie Sanders & Trump Phenomenon19:58 Fascism and Capitalism36:42 Politics Outside of the State53:21 Debating Capitalism and Socialism56:59 Contradictions of Capitalism & The Role of the Socialist Party01:00:59 The Role of Intellectuals01:25:14 Timeline and Structure of the Party01:34:50 Base Building & Civil Social Organizing01:38:02 Challenges and Realities of Organizing01:41:34 Party Structure and Organizing Tactics 01:48:01 Practical Steps for Building a Socialist Party02:18:40 Call to Action & The Backroom TransitionGUESTChris Cutrone — founder of the Platypus Affiliated Society; Marxist theorist, teacher, & lecturer. • “Socialist unity!” (essay + the 11 Theses) — https://chriscutrone.platypus1917.org/?p=4269• Campaign coverage hub (reports/interviews) — https://sublationthejournal.substack.com/s/campaign-for-a-socialist-party• Video explainer — A Call for Socialist Unity — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kmvfUH24DE• The Last Marxist (Cutrone’s site) — https://chriscutrone.platypus1917.org/Get involved/contact The Campaign for a Socialist Party: Onboarding email: campaignforasocialistpartyusa@gmail.comPlatypus Affiliated Society (reading groups / chapters): platypus-inquiries@googlegroups.com• Platypus Chapters page: https://platypus1917.org/chapters/• Research/Reports (Sublation): reportsandresearch@sublationmedia.comFOLLOW 1Dime:• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeOutro Music by Karl CaseyIf this episode made you think, drop a like, leave a comment, and give 1Dime Radio a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple.
Get access to The Backroom (75+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by Dr. Jane Hayward, a lecturer in Chinese Studies at the Lao China Institute at King's College. Dr. Hayward specializes in explaining China's political economy and misconceptions surrounding it. We discuss the specifics of how China's political system works, its mix of meritocracy, democracy, technocracy, & dictatorship, and the very different systems of competing provinces, like Guangdong and Chongqing. She also explains the inner workings of the Chinese Communist Party-state and its political economy. In The Backroom on Patreon, the Trump Tariffs, Jane's experience living in China, the prospects for China's future, and much more. Become a Patron at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven’t already.In The Backroom on Patreon, we discuss Trump’s new tariffs, Jane’s firsthand experience living in China, where the model is headed, and more.Timestamps00:00 The Backroom Preview02:38 1Dime Radio Introduction03:52 China’s Decentralized Political System08:12 Local vs Provincial Governments16:43 Democracy in China?20:00 Party Membership, Hierarchy, and Controlled Opposition34:20 Barriers to Entry and Party Membership39:30 Technocracy and Meritocracy49:44 Chongqing vs. Guangdong: Experiments in Socialist vs Capitalist Governance01:06:39 The Labor Movement in China01:17:34 The Gender Divide in China01:30:15 Conclusion and The Backroom TransitionGUEST: Dr. Jane Hayward's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@janehaywardchina/videosFOLLOW Me:1Dime:• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee.Outro Music by Karl CaseyIf you learned something, leave a like, comment, 5-Star Rating, and share it with a friend.
Get access to The Backroom (75+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by friend of the show C. Derick Varn to unpack the Charlie Kirk assassination (which happened in Utah, Varn's state) and MAGA’s reaction, Trump vs Jimmy Kimmel, implications for Free speech, the question of political violence, nihilism, and the reality of a Civil War Scenario in America. In The Backroom on Patreon, Varn and I discuss what “communism” means today, whether Varn still considers himself a Marxist, socialism vs communism, and the truth about “actually existing socialism”—especially China—plus updates on Tony’s upcoming video projects. Become a Patron at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven't alreadyTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction: Is China Socialist? (The Backroom Preview)00:06:04 Charlie Kirk, Jimmy Kimmel, & MAGA’s Reaction00:15:28 The Shooter’s Background and Radicalization00:38:13 Political Violence and Historical Context00:45:39 Liberal Responses and Gun Control Debates00:51:34 Shifts in Political Ideologies Among Young Men01:08:09 The Prospect of Civil War01:27:08 The US Military and Political Dynamics01:32:57 The Danger of Nihilism01:58:52 Nationalism as an Anti-Racist Force?02:02:36 The Backroom TransitionGUEST:C. Derick Varn — writer & host of Varn Vlog• YouTube (Varn Vlog): https://www.youtube.com/@VarnVlog/videosFOLLOW 1Dime:• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro Music by Karl CaseyLeave a like, drop a comment, and share the episode if you found it helpful.
Get access to The Backroom (75+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode, we ask a blunt question: Is it still worth joining a union? The answer is yes, but the reasons why most people don’t are valid, and rooted in material realities of the globalized economy, not just lack of “class consciousness.” We then pivot to political strategy: what counts as politics? How can countries solve problems that are beyond the scope of the nation-state? What are some key issues that can be realistic organizing footholds (like healthcare and housing)? In The Backroom on Patreon, we discuss the viral assassination of Charlie Kirk, the state of political violence in America, the Trump administration’s response, and how panic often gets used to justify the centralization of state power & the curtailment of civil liberties.Timestamps:00:00 The Charlie Kirk Event (The Backroom Preview)05:46 Guest Introduction: Benjamin Studebaker07:41 Discussion on Labor Unions and Worker Organization58:52 Politics as Intervention and the Role of Zeitgeist01:01:39 The Nature of Political Decisions and Cooperation01:04:53 Challenges in International Political Systems01:13:37 The Role of Healthcare in Political Movements01:17:26 Building Effective Coalitions for Change01:31:56 Nationalism vs. Internationalism in Political Movements01:50:49 What can be done now: (healthcare & Housing)02:00:36 The Left's Power Block02:04:29 Late Stage vs Middle Capitalism 02:08:54 The Role of The Military02:12:06 Anti-Civilizational Politics02:32:15 Transition to The BackroomGUEST:Benjamin Studebaker — political theorist; author of Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies and The Chronic Crisis of Liberal Democracy.• Website: https://benjaminstudebaker.com/about/• Follow Benjamin Studebaker on X: https://x.com/BMStudebakerFOLLOW 1Dime:• Substack (Articles and Essays): https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee.Outro Music by Karl CaseyIf this episode helped, please leave a like, comment, and 5-star rating, and share it with a friend.
Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined by Ben Tomas of Sisyphus55 - a major philosophy YouTube channel that has been around for quite a long time. Ben and I discuss the online Left, audience capture, and creator burnout. We dive into how the platform economy shapes political discourse, why “LeftTube” often functions like a brand, and what it takes to create thoughtfully without becoming a hot-take machine. We explore burnout vs. purpose, streaming as pseudo-activity, theory vs. practice, and get a little bit into psychoanalysis & political philosophy. In The Backroom on Patreon, Ben and I discuss our political maturations, psychoanalysis as a toolkit for left politics, and how postmodern theory became an entry point for many while class analysis got sidelined. We also chat about the Canadian political landscape (Quebec and Alberta Separatism), on what a constructive, civic-minded nationalism could look like. Last but not least, we talk about the so-called “masculinity crisis.” Timestamps:00:00:00 The Backroom Preview: Fascist Phisyogamy00:02:32 Backroom teaser & what we dig into behind the paywall00:03:41 Who is Sisyphus 55?00:04:57 Content craft & workflow — scripts, editing, and avoiding the hot-take grind00:06:52 Grad school & clinical psych insights for creators00:10:52 Audience capture and algorithm pressure00:13:11 The online Left as “brand” — incentives, identity, and discourse00:18:22 Creator burnout on YouTube00:33:41 The Revolution Will Not Be Uploaded 00:40:23 Desire & repression 01:23:05 where to go from here & The Backroom transitionGUEST:Ben Tomas (Sisyphus 55) — philosophy/psychology YouTuber; clinical psychology PhD student; creator of The Revolution Won’t Be Livestreamed series• YouTube: @Sisyphus55• Patreon / socials: search “Sisyphus 55”• Recommended starting point: The Revolution Won’t Be Livestreamed (series)FOLLOW 1Dime:• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Main channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee• Substack: https://substack.com/@tonyof1dimeOutro Music by Karl CaseyGIve 1Dime a 5-Star Rating if you enjoy the show!
Get access to THE BACKROOM (70+ exclusive episodes) and support 1Dime Radio: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this week’s episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by the one and only Yugopnik - Marxist YouTuber, Streamer, and co-host of The Deprogram Podcast with JT Chapman from Second Thought and Hakim. In this episode we discuss the state of so-called “LeftTube” and “The Left YouTube Pipeline.” We discuss Yugopniik’s funnel theory, whether he still believes in it, drama within The Online Left, Leftist infighting, and balancing theory with real-life organizing.In the two-hour Backroom episode on Patreon, Yugopnik and I dive deep into the Contrapoints drama with regard to Israel-Palestine and the left. We discuss how progressives are not always necessarily socialists, and how, in many cases, progressivism can sometimes be a barrier to socialism. We also discuss the technicalities of the socialist strategy and how the Separation of Powers and multi-party democracy could function under socialism in order to avoid the pitfalls of past Marxist-Leninist Regimes, and what MLs today in general miss. Oh, and we also dispel some dumb rumors circulating on Reddit with regard to me and the Deprogram boys. Timestamps: 00:00 Envisioning a Socialist Society01:35 Division of Power in Socialism06:37 Stereotypes, Incels, and Feminism Under Capitalism21:51 The Left YouTube Pipeline36:08 Fascism and the Military37:33 Leftist “Radicalization” and Organizing43:16 Ideology and Self-Criticism51:04 Religion, Socialism, and Conservatism01:01:24 The Contrapoints Israel Drama (The Backroom Transition)GUEST:Yugopnik — YouTube creator, political commentator & co‑host of The Deprogram• YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@YUGOPNIK • The Deprogram Podcast — https://www.youtube.com/@thedeprogram9999 • X/Twitter — @yugopnik FOLLOW 1Dime:• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro music by Karl Casey.Give 1Dime Radio a 5-star rating if you enjoy the show!
Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined by Chris Cutrone, a Marxist intellectual and founder of the Platypus Affiliated Society, to discuss his recent article making a case for “socialist unity”—not “left unity” but a socialist unity based on class unity, including working people with progressive and conservative views. In the Backroom, I get Chris Cutrone to elaborate on what he means by his claim that “the Left is dead—long live the Left” which begs the question: When Did the Left Die? Timestamps:00:00 The Backroom Preview03:50 Chris Cutrone’s article on Socialist Unity06:08 The Failure of The Millennial Left08:11 The Role of Marxist and Socialist Unity12:22 Challenges of Leftist Organizations29:35 The Need for a Socialist Party38:20 Class Unity vs. Ideological Unity01:03:02The Working Class Vote01:07:41 Electoral Politics and Movement Building01:11:06 The Left's Identity Crisis01:13:33 Fascism and Popular Frontism01:19:47 Class Politics vs. Identity Politics01:29:10 Progressive Capitalism and Its Contradictions01:35:14 Rebuilding a Socialist Left01:52:39 The Backroom TransitionFOLLOW 1Dime:• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro Music by Karl CaseyGive 1DIme Radio a 5-Star Rating if you enjoy the show!
Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode, I sit down with philosophy professor turned YouTube star Michael Burns (formerly part of the channel “Wisecrack," which recently was disbanded) to discuss the relationship between Christianity and Socialism and whether a Christian Socialism synthesis is possible in the modern day.In The Backroom aftershow, Michael and I talk about the new Pope Leo XIV, Liberation Theology, and socialist strategy in America. Become a patron at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven't already!Timestamps:00:00 The New Pope Leo XIV (The Backroom Preview)03:43 Michael Burns of Wisecrack04:56 How Christianity made Michael Socialist07:45 New Atheism09:20 Evangelicalism vs. Catholicism12:37 Christianity on the left and right20:00 Building a Socialist Coalition with Religious and Secular People34:28 Christian Arguments for Socialism44:40 Was Marx wrong about Religion?49:50 Christian Atheism and Deism59:47 Moral Relativism and Universal Truths01:11:13 Faith and Anxiety01:29:38 Transition to The BackroomGUEST:Michael Burns – philosopher & creator, ex-Wisecrack host• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelOBurns• Twitter/X: https://x.com/michaeloburnsFOLLOW 1Dime:• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial• Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeeOutro Music by Karl CaseyLeave a like, a comment, and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed the show! #Christianity #Socialism #MichaelBurns #1DimeRadio #liberationTheology
Get access to The Backroom (70+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIs the Marxist conception of class outdated? In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I’m joined by Dave from Theory Underground to unpack the “Post-Class Fractured Mass” (PCFM): why the working class, the “proletariat” no longer coheres the way Marxists imagined, how media + schooling carve us into niches and swarms, and what this means for organizing today. We talk about why the decline of working-class power is due to real material factors in the economy, and not just due to ideology and “class consciousness.” This brings us to the pivotal question: in the age of the gig economy, is the working class obsolete as the agent of revolutionary change? If so, who is the revolutionary subject today? In the backroom, we discuss the issues with the term “Post-Left”, how people burn out from politics, and how bourgeois pseudoprogressive libertine attitudes bleed into leftist circles (like polyamory, non-monogamy, etc). Become a patron at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven’t already!Timestamps: 00:00:00 The Backroom Preview05:15 The Post-Class Fractured Mass (PCFM) 07:08 Jobs, Careers, & Time-energy 10:33 “Progressive” schooling as sorting/gatekeeping 25:54 From Class Power to Popular Front of "The Vulnerable"30:14 Outsourcing, deindustrialization & Stratification 36:35 The “Dictatorship of the Proletariat” 42:27 Can the Democratic Party be “reformed”? 50:10 The Gig Economy and The Breakdown of Solidarity 01:02:08 Ideological Gerrymandering01:21:45 AI & Transition to The Backroom GUEST:Dave — Theory Underground• Check out the Theory Underground YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theory_underground• Check out the Underground Theory Book (Im in it too!) : https://www.amazon.com/Underground-Theory-David-McKerracher/dp/B0CH2CXSGN• Check out the Dave’s Timenergy Book: https://www.amazon.com/Timenergy-Why-Have-Time-Energy/dp/B0D285C1TV/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uWMeog7v0Fzxa2o7vYK7_OuDzbW0mXjpYddGDa84LDHzaHN7WUeL3O_T1zrzPCEr4Tw75Pn1KD82Jmmdem3hjQKq0TW4WLFIA3DIhDNVaV4.mgTh5f1Lm2lcEPI24AzA_GwBr-Gs5nOCIyzU_5-BfEg&dib_tag=se&qid=1753806927&refinements=p_27%3ADavid+McKerracher&s=books&sr=1-1&text=David+McKerracherFOLLOW 1Dime:• X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial • Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman •Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee Outro Music by Karl CaseyGive the Podcast a 5-star Rating if you enjoyed the show!
Get access to The Backroom Exclusive episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by Professor Todd McGowan, philosopher and author of "Emancipation After Hegel" and "Capitalism and Desire," to debunk some misconceptions about Sigmund Freud: The Father of Psychoanalysis. Todd breaks down major misconceptions about Freud's ideas, from the real meaning behind "penis envy" and hysteria to why the phallus represents fraudulent symbolic power rather than actual authority. We dive deep into the crucial distinction between drive and desire, how fantasy structures our reality (and why realizing our fantasies would be the worst thing that could happen), and why repression actually manifests on the surface rather than buried deep within. We also discuss how these insights help us understand everything from capitalism's engine of perpetual dissatisfaction to why shows like Mad Men and The Sopranos perfectly illustrate psychoanalytic concepts.In The Backroom on Patreon, Todd and I discuss Hegel's most misunderstood yet popular concept—dialectics—and how it connects to psychoanalytic thinking. Become a Patron at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven't already!Timestamps:00:00 The Backroom Preview: Materialism vs Idealism02:48 Why Psychoanalysis? 06:17 The Relevance of Freud Today09:43 The Unconscious32:41 Freud the Feminist?46:50 Repression and Civilization51:04 Penis Envy and the Phallus54:55 Desire vs The Death Drive01:13:28 Fantasy and Reality in Psychoanalysis01:24:11 Capitalism, Socialism, & Communism01:28:04 Embracing Alienation 01:31:17 Mad Men and Taxi Driver01:43:07 Freudian Dream Theory and Its Critics01:50:43 Freud's Political Views01:58:06 Transition to the BackroomCheck out Todd McGowan’s books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IU0F3ITodd McGowan’s Why Theory Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YAQf8Tg8Da7QRBx9vKWgs?si=863cdf40265b4620Follow me on X: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/1dimeman Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee Give 1Dime Radio a 5-Star rating if you enjoyed the show!
Get access to The Backroom exclusive podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDimeIn this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by political theorist Benjamin Studebaker, a PhD at Cambridge and author of the books "The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy" and "Legitimacy in Liberal Democracies," to break down the Iran-Israel conflict, Zohran Mamdani's surprising NYC mayoral primary victory, and the recent LA protests over immigration. We also discuss the historic election of Zohran Mamdani—a socialist, Muslim, pro-Palestine candidate who beat AIPAC in the most Jewish city outside of Israel—and why local electoral wins may not translate to broader socialist strategy. The conversation takes a controversial turn as we examine the left's embrace of subsidized childcare, with Benjamin arguing that this merely accommodates capitalism's dissolution of the family.Timestamps:00:00 Preview: Zohran Mamdani’s Victory03:08 War with Iran, NYC Election, & the LA Protests05:06 Iran-Israel War: What Most People Miss 10:12 The Role of Arab States and Turkey11:37 Why the US May Not Want Regime Change in Iran14:34 Challenges of Regime Change in Iran27:38 Egypt, Turkey, & The Gulf States54:34 Likelihood of Revolutions in the Middle East?01:09:55 Why Russia Dosent Hell Iran01:15:58 A New Era of American Hegemony?01:26:40 The Election of Zohran Mamdani01:31:24 Lessons for The Left01:50:49 Rent Control, Housing Market and the problem with Urban Growth02:09:52 The LA protests: Immigration and Public Perception02:18:34 Childcare and The Decline of The Family02:32:25 The Abundance Movement In The Backroom segment on Patreon, Benjamin and I talk about Ezra Klein’s “abundance” movement. Become a Patron and get access to 65 exclusive podcast episodes at Patreon.com/OneDime if you haven’t already!Follow Benjamin Studebaker on X: https://x.com/BenStudebakerFollow me on X: https://x.com/1DimeOfficialFollow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/1dimemanCheck out my main-channel video essays: https://www.youtube.com/@1DimeOutro music by Karl Casey.Leave a like, drop a comment, and give 1Dime Radio a ★★★★★ rating if you enjoyed the show!