Alyson and Breht analyze the results of the recent presidential election and explore its various meanings. Together they discuss the grotesque hollowness of the Democratic Party, the identity crisis of the post-Trump Republican party, dealignment and realignment, the end of neoliberalism, the rise of the illiberal Right around the world, strategies for developing the socialist left as a serious player on the electoral terrain, how Trump might navigate the Israel issue, the end of neoliberal identity reductionism, the importance of solidarity across identities, building power outside of the Democratic Party, neoliberalism and neoconservatism, challenges to liberalism, Tenant Organizing, the Labor Movement, how Trump's second term might (or might not) be different from his first term, and MUCH more! Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio Follow RLR on IG HERE Subscribe to Red Menace on your preferred podcast app
Breht speaks at length about the upcoming election, changes and trends within the two parties, the Democratic Coalition of neoconservatives and neoliberals, the inevitable culmination of this era of American crises, the GOP identity-crisis after Trump, the accelerationist perspective on a Trump victory, the emptiness of Kamala's campaign, why socialists cannot support either party/candidate, the total dead-end of liberal and conservative identity politics, and much more. This is a segment of a much longer patreon-exclusive bonus episode. Join our patreon to listen to the full episode - and get bonus episodes like this every month, as well as access to over 300 bonus episodes in our back catalogue: https://www.patreon.com/RevLeftRadio
On this Halloween, Jon Greenaway returns to the show to discuss his new book "Capitalism: A Horror Story (Gothic Marxism and the Dark Side off the Radical Imagination)". What does it mean to see horror in capitalism? What can horror tell us about the state and nature of capitalism? Blending film criticism, cultural theory, and philosophy, Capitalism: A Horror Story examines literature, film, and philosophy, from Frankenstein to contemporary cinema, delving into the socio-political function of the monster, the haunted nature of the digital world, and the inescapable horror of contemporary capitalist politics. Revitalizing the tradition of Romantic anticapitalism and offering a “dark way of being red”, Capitalism: A Horror Story argues for a Gothic Marxism, showing how we can find revolutionary hope in horror- a site of monstrous becoming that opens the door to a Utopian future. Check out Jon's Substack HERE Check out and Support the Horror Vanguard Podcast HERE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left HERE Follow RLR on IG HERE
Tracy Rosenthal and Leonardo Vilchis, co-founders of the LA Tenants Union, join Breht to discuss their organizing and their new book "Abolish Rent". Together, they discuss the housing crisis, the role played by private equity, developers, politicians, and landlords, the history and experiences of LA Tenants Union, the importance of political education, how the housing struggle is tied to land struggles, how the housing crisis is inexorably tied to the broader crisis of capitalism and connected to almost every other issue we care about, the forms and strategies of fighting back (rent strikes, eviction defenses, etc.), the socialist struggle and the communist vision, advice for other organizers, and so much more! Learn more and support the LA Tenants Union HERE Purchase Abolish Rent HERE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left HERE Follow RLR on IG HERE
James from Prolekult joins Breht to discuss Prolekult's expansive new documentary, which you can find for free on YouTube, called "For Land: Capitalism as Extinction". Together, they discuss the documentary, political education, how the internal logic of capitalism produces environmental destruction, how the commodity form of labor is at the root of the eco-crisis, eco-marxism, the hyper-destructive role played by colonialism and imperialism, what the revolutionary socialist left needs to grapple with in regards to the crises of our time, and much more! Check out For Land Pt. 1: Capitalism as Extinction Support Prolekult and help them make parts 2 and 3 HERE Follow Prolekult on Twitter and Instagram Outro Song: "Steady" by CYNE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left HERE Follow RLR on IG HERE
Alyson and Breht reflect on the life and death of the Palestinian resistance leader Yahya Sinwar. Outro Song "Gaza Strip 2 Detroit" by Sammy Shiblaq
Jenna Martin, an independent journalist from Montana, joins Breht to discuss her recent visit to the West Bank. Together, they discuss her trip, how she got into the occupied territories amidst war, her first-hand account of the brutality and violence of the Israeli apartheid regime in the West Bank, settler violence against the indigenous Palestinians, how Palestinian's rely on creativity and community to fight back, the arbitrary nature of fascist violence employed by the IDF, the day-to-day indignities faced by Palestinians, Palestinians families in need that you can directly help in the links below, and much more. Outro Song: "Wake Up" by Llunar Below are a list of verified donation links for families in Gaza in desperate need of help. If you have the ability, please consider helping. Put your love into action: Help Malak provide for her three small children in Gaza: https://chuffed.org/project/malak Help Eman provide for her three small children in Gaza: https://chuffed.org/project/eman Help Hamouda and her three small children in Gaza: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-hamoudas-family-in-gaza-crisis?lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link Help Samaher and her three children pay rent in Egypt and get their dad out of Gaza: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mwb37-help-me-and-my-kids?utm_campaign=p_cp+fundraiser-sidebar&utm_content=icons_only_var_c1&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer Help Marwan and Ahmed pay for school and help their family still trapped in Gaza: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-baby-judy-and-her-family-survive-in-gaza?lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
Alyson and Breht discuss the unfolding regional war between Israel and literally all of its neighbors, the restrained Iranian response to Israeli aggression, US complicity and contributions to the fascist mass murder campaign, Hezbollah and Lebanon, Russia and Syria, the decrepit war criminals littering the US ruling class, who is actually running the Biden adminstration, Kamala and Trump tripping over one another to declare their love and loyalty to Israel, why Democrats and their ardent supporters are thoroughly right-wing, the looming prospect of nuclear war and how it might happen, how this regional war might spill over into a world war, how US propaganda employed after 9-11 is used today to justify war and violence against Arab Muslims, the lessons learned from the CIA assassination of JFK, why the US and Israel must be defeated for the good of humanity, how resources are taken away from desperate people in the US facing CC-fueled natural disasters and spent on war instead, and much, much more. Outro Song: "I May Be Young" by MC Abdul Support Rev Left HERE Check out all Red Menace Eps HERE Follow us on IG HERE
Professor and author Matt McManus returns to the show to discuss his newest book, "The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism". Together they explore the major themes of the book, hash out the disagreements they have between revolutionary Marxism and democratic socialism, explore critical thinkers like Karl Marx, Thomas Paine, Mary Wollstonecraft, and John Rawls, wrestle with the questions of revolution and communism as the ultimate goal of socialism, and much more. "Providing a comprehensive critical genealogy of liberal socialism from a sympathetic but critical standpoint, McManus traces its core to the Revolutionary period that catalyzed major divisions in liberal political theory to the French Revolution that saw the emergence of writers like Mary Wollstonecraft and Thomas Paine who argued that liberal principles could only be inadequately instantiated in a society with high levels of material and social inequality to John Stuart Mill, the first major thinker who declared himself a liberal and a socialist and who made major contributions to both traditions through his efforts to synthesize and conciliate them." Check out our other episodes with Matt HERE Outro Song: "Best of All Possible Worlds" by Ajj feat: Kool Keith & Kimya Dawson Support Rev Left HERE Follow us on IG HERE
Alyson and Breht return to do a follow up conversation to their well-received previous episode regarding this topic, "On Mysticism: Ego, Suffering, & Love". In this episode, they dive even deeper, discussing what enlightenment really is, the universal accessibility of Non-Dual awareness, the arguments for and against Perennialism, the mystical branches of Abrahamic religions, Buddhism and Taoism, meditation, awareness, fascist mysticism, and much more. Support Rev Left HERE Check out all Red Menace Eps HERE Follow us on IG HERE Outro Song: Lonely Heart by Neva Dinova
Seth and Jade from OTU join Breht to discuss their tenant organizing, their recent victories, implementing the Mass Line, the importance of political education, how to take the fight to landlords, concrete advice for those who might want to start their own tenant organization, and much more! Learn more about OTU HERE Get 15% off any book at Left Wing Books HERE Outro Song: Rent Man by Black Uhuru --------------------------------------------------------- Rev Left is and always will be 100% listener funded. You can support the show and get access to hundreds of bonus episodes HERE Follow Rev Left on Insta
Space from Art For The People and Thomas O'Connell from MCU (Maoist Communist Union) join Breht to discuss these organizations, their aims and goals, the role of art and artists in a revolutionary movement, the impossibility of "non-political art", their shared love of hip hop, Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, the importance of giving and receiving criticism, communist organizing, and much more! MCU's instagram MCU's website AFTP's Instagram Marxism Today on Youtube Space's music Space's Instagram Space Baby's Songs featured in this episode: Martyrs, Go In, Damn I'm In Debt, and Nothing to Lose --------------------------------------------------------- Rev Left is and always will be 100% listener funded. You can support the show and get access to hundreds of bonus episode in our back catologue HERE Follow Rev Left on Insta
Willy Massay joins Breht in-studio to discuss his time as a medical volunteer in Gaza. Willy got back into town just last week and speaks candidly and movingly about his experiences with and among the Palestinian people in Gaza. Donate to 3 displaced families in Gaza HERE Donate to Fidaa and her children in Gaza HERE Learn more about Rahma Worldwide HERE Learn more about Jewish Voices for Peace HERE Learn more about Nebraskans for Palestine HERE Outro Song: World Goes Blind by Samer
A book of poetry dedicated to the human experience of the working class poor in the American Midwest... Buy and/or review At Least the Pain is Cheap HERE Get a free copy at: atleastthepainischeap@gmail.com
Shoeless in South Dakota: In this fourth edition of our All Too Human interview series, Breht and Dave welcome their old friend from high school, Christian, into the Shoeless Shed to have an honest conversation about his struggles with alcoholism, methamphetamine, and incarceration. This is the first time Breht and Christian have seen eachother in 15 years! With these All Too Human interviews, we aim to highlight and destigmatize the mental health and addiction struggles of regular working class people in hopes that we can provide insight into this type of human suffering, help others who struggle with similar things feel less alone, and deepen our understanding of the modern human condition. Outro music: "Learning to Change" by Tidda (Christian) Check out more of Christian's music HERE ---------------------- Contact us, support us, follow us, or learn more about the show here: https://www.shoelessinsouthdakota.com
Chase from the Maoist Communist Union (MCU) joins Breht to discuss revolutionary strategy, both historically and presently, and the specific role of the industrual proletariat in that strategy. Together, they discuss communist organizing, different class stratas and their revolutionary potential, the science of Marxism, historical materialism, imperialism and its ideological and material impacts on the working class of the imperial core, the social divison of labor, the service industry, large scale v. small scale industry, trade unions, right and left deviations, and much more! Learn more about the Maoist Communist Union HERE Reach out to MCU at maoistcommunistunion@riseup.net Join the MCU Open Study group by contacting at MCUstudy@proton.me Reach out to Chase at MassStrugglePod@protonmail.com Get 15% off any book at Left Wing Books HERE --------------------------------------------------------- Rev Left is and always will be 100% listener funded. You can support the show and get access to hundreds of bonus episode in our back catologue HERE Follow Rev Left on Insta
Too Black returns to the show to discuss the case of the Pendleton 2, the story of John “Balagoon” Cole and Christopher “Naeem” Trotter, the leaders of the Indiana prison uprising that rescued Lincoln "Lokmar" Love from being brutalized and killed by prison guards, exposed Pendleton’s dehumanizing conditions, and unleashed the vindictive wrath of the Indiana Department of Correction. Together, he and Breht discuss the backstory, the legal case and trial, the absurdly long prison sentences they recieved, the KKK-affiliated "Sons of Light" operating amongst the prison guards, The Black Dragons, prison organizing, solitary confinement, how you can help the Pendleton 2 directly, the powerful legacy of George Jackson, the unacceptable and inhuman conditions of American prisons, the Black Alliance for Peace's "Black August" events, and more! You can donate directly to campaign to free the Pendleton 2 HERE Watch the documentary "The Pendleton 2: They Stood Up" for free on YT HERE Check out Too Black's website HERE Here are previous episodes discussed during this converation, including the latest episode of the Black Myths Podcast, which you can find on your preferred podcast app: Laundering Black Rage: Capitalism, Empire, and The Mechanics of Co-optation All Power to the People: The Kevin Rashid Johnson Interview Myth: Black August is a Celebration (w/ Christopher "Naeem" Trotter) Follow Rev Left on IG Outro Song: "Police State" by Dead Prez
Join Breht, Amanda, and Evan as they delve into Soviet filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky's first feature film, Ivan's Childhood (1962). The episode starts with a lighthearted discussion about dream dinner guests, then moves into a detailed analysis of themes like innocence lost, war trauma, and symbolic elements such as trees and cobwebs. The hosts draw parallels between the film's depiction of war and ongoing humanitarian crises like those in Palestine. Part of their Tarkovsky series, this episode also touches on broader issues like moral responsibility toward children and insights from the guests' personal work. Check out our other two episodes on Tarkovsky's "Solaris" and "Stalker": https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=tarkovsky Amanda Joy Moon: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandajoymoon/ Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/riotgrrrlprintz/?etsrc=sdt TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@amandajoymoon Left of the Projector Links https://www.patreon.com/LeftoftheProjectorPod https://boxd.it/5T9O1 https://leftoftheprojector.com https://instagram.com/leftoftheprojector ----------------------------------------------------- Get 15% off any book in the Left Wing Books Library HERE Support Rev Left Radio Follow Rev Left on IG
Ruehl Muller joins Breht to discuss his upcoming book, put out by Iskra Books, titled "Building a People's Art: Selected Works of Trường Chinh and Tố Hữu". Together, they discuss Vietnamese Socialist Realism, Maoist China, Cultural Revolution, dialectics, the death drive, fascism in Germany and Israel, New Democracy, and much more! Find this book, stay up to date on all releases, get into contact with Ruehl, and so much here at www.iskrabooks.org Outro Song: "Opening Salvo" by Blue Scholars -------------------------------- Rev Left is and always will be 100% listener funded, you can support the show and get access to hundreds of bonus episode in our back catologue on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RevLeftRadio Follow Rev Left on Insta
Breht reflects on recent global events, from the fascist riots in the UK, to the escalating tensions in the Middle East, to another coup attempt in Venezuela, to the electoral spectacle here in the US... Then he offers up a positive vision of the future and how each of us can contribute to human civilizational evolution. Outro Song: The Cure by Non-Prophets ------------------------------------------------------- Rev Left is and always will be 100% listener funded. We appreciate deeply everyone who supports the show in any way, you can support the show and get access to hundreds of bonus episode in our back catologue HERE Follow Rev Left on Insta
Stephen Arkley
you going to do an episode valourising Sean Russell next?
Kristopher Richards
Free, Free, Palestine
Alexander DeMarco
Are you aware that there was a Marxist Leninist running for President of the UAW and that Fain beat him in a rigged election? There is pending litigation on this right now in Federal Court.
iced
Isn't this constant "lack" dealt with in capitalism by the neoliberal method of control by the illusion of choice?
iced
"The events in 2014 can't be called a revolution, because there was no leap in quality, just a coup. When a ballistic capitalism remained, only the political vector changed". True