The Interesting Times podcast

In this episode we direct a critical gaze at the widely held narrative wherein the erosion of the American industrial base took with it the ‘good life’ and well-being provided by industrial work throughout the 1950s-60s. In this view, these socio-economic shifts led to a sense of abandonment and elite resentment that, in part, fueled the rise of Donald Trump. I think there is definitely some truth to this. But I also think this framing is misleading in ways that point us towards solutions that will not (even if successfully implemented) alleviate these problems or promote human flourishing. Rather, we peer into a key work of the self-educated metal worker, labor activist, & social theorist Harry Braverman, to put forth an alternative rendering of this narrative and a reconsideration of the supposed ‘Golden Age’ of American capitalism. An excellent recent essay (mentioned in the episode) on the Braverman’s life and his massively influential book, Labor and Monopoly Capital: The Degradation of Work in the Twentieth Century, can be found here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

In this episode I try to think about what the simultaneous thriving of MAG7 companies and the burgeoning authoritarian Trump regime tell us about the purported symbiosis between “advanced” capitalism and democracy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

In this episode I try to drop AI into a bit of a wider historical and political-economic perspective. More a series of propositions than any firm conclusions, but I hope it spurns some consideration on your part. Please share your thoughts in a comment or direct message. Thanks as always for listening and supporting the show. Here are a few of the books I mentioned in the show, I highly recommend them all, but to me, Hao and Slobodian’s respective works are absolutely essential.Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI By Karen HaoHayek's Bastards: Race, Gold, IQ, and the Capitalism of the Far Right Quinn Slobodianand there is a pdf copy of Karl Polanyi’s Great Transformation available here! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

A second attempt at a video post, this time from the serene confines of the Akita countryside. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

Thoughts, analysis, and some (dark) projections. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

Initial reactions and analysis. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

In this episode I try to zero in on some of the wider implications of the G7 endorsing a patent violation of international law. Hint: They are not very good! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

We are staring into an abyss, but we need not be sucked in. The vast majority (close to 80%) of Americans want NO part in a war with Iran. However, it is critical to mobilize to stop this reckless creep towards involvement by the Trump administration. After recording this, I saw the White House issued a statement declaring that they have no intention of entering the conflict directly. Right, just as they assuredly told the Iranians that there was no chance Israel would strike while negotiations with the US were ongoing. This can be stopped, but we must hit the streets now! Also, call your senator to support Senator Tim Kaine’s resolution to insist upon congress’s control over any US military involvement in Iran. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

Back again with some thoughts and analysis as the conflict escalates and spirals. Recorded 9:00 am Sunday morning Japan time/8:00 pm Saturday east coast time US. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

Some thoughts and (hopefully) useful insights into this dark turn in global politics. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

It is our great pleasure to welcome back the one and only Dr. Ira Allen. He is Associate Professor of Rhetoric, Writing, and Digital Media Studies at Northern Arizona University as well as author of the recent book Panic Now?: Tools for Humanizing. As always, Ira adds so much to not only our understanding of ‘what’s going on,’ but more importantly provides a set of frames for (re)considering how we approach these troubled times in the first place. Thanks as always for your support. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

My breakdown of the latest twists and turns in our post liberation tribulation day world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

It is our great pleasure to welcome Dr. Ann Pellegrini and Dr. Avgi Saketopoulou back to The Interesting Times podcast. As with our previous conversation, they offer a trove of important insights into the politics related to the trans community in the US. They are accomplished scholars, practitioners, and activists in this space and we are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from their insights and perspectives. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

Excited to bring you this fascinating discussion with my old friend Brandon Stahl who has spent years conducting business with Chinese manufacturers and has a trove of direct insights into how the tariffs are impacting global supply chains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

Another installment on Liberation Tribulation Day and its many discontents wherein we ponder that indeed you cannot buy or sell stuff you that is not there and why Scott Bessent is terrible for multiple reasons. Also a May Day reflection on notions of ‘labor’ and ‘consumers.’ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

Wherein I try to explain why my standing thesis that in many ways the White House’s historically botched trade gambit makes Trump’s actual CAVE far less significant than it may appear. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

It our great pleasure to welcome Dr. Marlene Daut, professor of French and African American Studies at Yale University. The focus of our discussion is her recent book, The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe . This book takes us on a fascinating journey into the life and times of the Haitian revolutionary who would go on to become its only king. We also delve into the controversies surrounding his place in Haitian history and the wider international environment of the 19th century Caribbean world. Thanks as always for supporting the show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

I think it is clear that the Trump team has lost control of the narrative. Not in any superficial horserace sense, but in the deep psychological sense of how actors in various key positions are framing and processing these still very fluid events. Thanks as always for listening. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

Well, well, well. I am back and this time I do think with some important framings missing in the coverage. I think the reporting on this, especially by left of center media is way off, Trump most certainly did not CAVE. In important ways (while staving off the immediate looming financial meltdown driven by the bond sell off), he has escalated the situation immensely. I try to explain why I see it this way in the episode. Thanks for being on this journey with me. These are wild times This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com

Another installment in my doom casting series. Heavy stuff, but things we need to consider. I know a lot of folks must me scared and confused, trust me, I am too. Sending this out with nothing but love and compassion to those facing the consequences for these squabbles among the rich and powerful. Sadly, same as it ever was. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com