The Class Line

We are witnessing the biggest militarization drive since WWII. The government, the media and the billionaires say this is necessary for “defence.” They all say this will create good jobs and kick start the economy. But this is a colossal waste of money - and they will make us pay for it. State finances are already strained, and governments across the country are implementing cuts to social services and conducting mass layoffs. And military spending, far from boosting the real economy, is a massive drain, throwing billions away that could be spent in the real economy.This week, Joel is joined by Holly Quilty from the Executive Committee of the Revolutionary Communist Party to discuss what this massive increase in military spending means for the class struggle in Canada.Related articles:Carney’s military spending is a gift to the U.S.Carney gives billions to the army: who pays?Ted Grant - Will there be a slump?"Guns vs. Butter" NATO Association ArticleSubscribe to Communist RevolutionJoin the Revolutionary Communist Party

The post secondary education system is mired in a deep crisis. Already, tens of thousands of staff have been laid off, hundreds of programs have been cut and entire campuses have been shut down affecting tens of thousands of students. And now governments are moving to offload the cost of this crisis onto the backs of students by cutting funding, cutting grants and raising tuition. The conclusion many are drawing is that the only way to stop this is with a student strike. A strike is set for Nova Scotia and a student strike movement is developing in Ontario. As more governments release their spring budgets, we can expect more cuts. The only way to stop this is by mobilizing the widest possible layers for a student strike. But how can we build a student strike - and how can we win?This week, Joel is joined by Marco La Grotta to discuss this question drawing from experience with the 2019 Ryerson student strike and the 2012 Quebec student strike. Related articles:To save post-secondary education, fight for socialism!Ten years since the 2012 Quebec student strikeOpen letter to the Canadian Federation of Students: Fight Ford’s cuts! Prepare a student strike!Toronto university students hold first strike in a generationSign the Petition in support of a student strikeJoin the Revolutionary Communist Party here

While there is a widespread feeling of hopelessness as the government withdraws climate policies, there is no reason to lose hope. This only represents the death of liberal environmentalism - the belief that we can protect the planet under capitalism. This week, Joel is joined by Josie Seaton from the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Communist Party to discuss why these policies failed and what we can do to solve the climate crisis. Related articles:The rich are killing the planet“It’s too late”: David Suzuki and the death agony of liberal environmentalismAnother nail in the coffin of green liberalism‘World covered in gasoline’: How capitalism poured fuel on the Alberta wildfiresJoin the Revolutionary Communist Party here

After resisting and delaying, they were finally forced to release the Epstein files. The 3.5 million pages of documents lay out the seedy wheeling and dealings of Epstein and his associates.The files confirm everything Marxists have explained about the inner workings of the capitalist system itself, politics, morality and law under capitalism.This week Joel is joined by Josh Holroyd, editor of the In Defence of Marxism magazine and member of the International Secretariat of the Revolutionary Communist International. Josh and Joel cut through the various narratives spun in the mainstream media to show what the Epstein saga really represents and the effects this will have on the class struggle.Subscribe to the In Defence of Marxism magazine in English or FrenchRegister for the Montreal Marxist Winter School hereJoin the Revolutionary Communist Party here

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Carney gave an uncharacteristically honest speech. Carney declared that the rules based order is dead and in its place we are faced with a situation in which “great powers abandon even the pretense of rules and values for the unhindered pursuit of their power and interests.”For this episode of The Class Line, Joel Bergman and Marco La Grotta discuss the significance of Carney’s speech and what the Communist approach is to this new epoch of imperialist rivalry. Related Article:Carney’s extraordinary speech at Davos: Canada and the New World OrderRegister for the Montreal Marxist Winter School hereJoin the Revolutionary Communist Party here

With the bombing of Venezuela and the kidnapping of Maduro, Donald Trump stormed into 2026 with what he calls "the Donroe doctrine."Detailed in the National Security Strategy document, the Americans will be fighting for U.S. dominance in the Western hemisphere. For the first episode of The Class Line, Joel is joined by Marco La Grotta to discuss what this all means for Canada. Related Articles:US attack on Venezuela – the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ in actionCanada’s cowardly and hypocritical response to U.S. attack on VenezuelaRegister for the Montreal Marxist Winter School hereJoin the Revolutionary Communist Party hereQuestion for the show? Email us at classlinepod@gmail.com or send us a DM on Instagram (@classline.pod)Editor's note: Due to technical difficulties, there are some audio/visual glitches in this episode. These will be corrected in future episodes.