Posts In Category

Socialism

A man in a suit smiling with arms crossed on a city street.
DemocratsElectoral politicsHistory That Matters NowPodcastPopulismSocialism

After 2024, the mainstream of the Democratic Party is in the wilderness, but Zohran Mamdani may lead a way out. This week’s guest Fred Glass, talks about what early 20th century California history can teach us about the 2025 New

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A blue fist gripping a red lightning bolt symbolizing power.
EnvironmentPodcastPopulismSocialism

It took a lot of persistent steady heavy lifting but New York State now has a new democratically run power authority. Instead of the traditional for-profit monopolies, the public good will determine a greener, less expensive supply of electricity.

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Cover of 'American Midnight' book featuring a black-and-white crowd image with bold white text.
Civil LibertiesFascism on the RisePodcastSocialism

Authoritarianism. Anti-Immigrant. White men fearful of losing control.   Books banned, free press shut down. Widespread domestic spying. Dissent criminalized and many jailed tortured and killed. In his new book, American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace, and Democracy’s

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Portrait of a woman in vintage attire wearing a straw hat.
Fascism on the RisePodcastSocialismWomen

Pre-capitalist indigenous cultures have a lot to offer us today for a better, greener future. And socialism is not how its pictured. Neglected by the Great Men study of history, Rosa Luxemburg, a 4′ 11″ disabled young woman from what’s

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Portrait of a woman in vintage attire wearing a straw hat.
PodcastProtests & ResistanceSocialismWomen

Precapitalist indigenous cultures have a lot to offer us today for a better, greener future. And socialism is not how its pictured. Neglected by the Great Men study of history, Rosa Luxemburg, a 4′ 11″ disabled young woman from what’s

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Elderly man with gray hair and beard wearing a scarf and white shirt.
International NewsPodcastSocialism

Smeared and driven from leadership of the British Labour Party. Relentlessly attacked by the uniquely powerful British tabloid media, our guest today Matt Sarb-Cousin argues there’s never been a leader like Jeremy Corbyn. Except perhaps America’s own Bernie Sanders. Trump

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Crowded group of people, many wearing masks and helmets, interacting outdoors.
PodcastPopulismSocialism

As Americans were dancing in the streets with the ousting of Trump, so the people of Bolivia  celebrated the return of Evo Morales, first indigenous president after a coup forced him to flee. The new president is Luis Arce, former

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Protesters holding a banner stating criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitic.
CultureIsrael & PalestineJusticePodcastSocialism

How is it that Jewish liberals felt the State of Israel was exempt from criticism applied elsewhere? Our guest today Benjamin Balthaser, who teaches multi-ethnic literature at Indiana University, talks about a little known history: Most liberal and left Jewish

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Book cover of 'Rebel Cinderella' by Adam Hochschild with a historical woman and protest signs.
Civil LibertiesHistory That Matters NowJusticePodcastSocialism

We’re all fascinated by Cinderella stories. This one happens to be true, with many twists. Extremely rich WASP man marries very poor Jewish immigrant in 1905. But she turns out to be the strong one. The new book by Adam

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Smiling elderly man with a friendly expression resting his head on his hand.
PodcastPopulismSocialism

Iowa and New Hampshire’s results are in. What’s the best way for Democrats to beat Trump? On this show former Oklahoma Senator DNC chair and presidential candidate Fred Harris, who embraced populism in the 1970s, talks about different approaches: going

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Soldiers celebrating with drinks beside a small Christmas tree in the snow.
History That Matters NowPodcastSocialismWar

You’ve heard of the famous Christmas Truce of 1914 between the trenches of the British and German soldiers. These were indeed brave men. But that was not the only such event: there were desertions, mutinies, and fraternizations. Today it seems

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A question mark featuring EU and UK flags symbolizes Brexit uncertainty.
International NewsIsrael & PalestinePodcastPopulismRacismSocialism

Consumed with Brexit, the old upper and lower class divisions are themselves divided. According to professor Kenneth Surin, a Brit teaching at Duke, the decision made by voters in the upcoming general election will be of major importance. On one

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Symmetrical black silhouettes of roses and wheat stalks on a white background.
CultureFascism on the RisePodcastPopulismSocialism

What keeps Trump was his false version of “Roses.” An uplift from everyday dullness. Looking at the upcoming election, our guest today Professor Ed Simon argues that “those that will be the most successful will be those that speak of

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A man with blond hair resting his chin on his hand, looking thoughtful.
CultureInternational NewsPodcastPopulismSocialism

He’s often said to be England’s Trump. And many hope his reign as Prime Minister of the UK will be the shortest in British history. How much damage will Boris Johnson do to formerly great Britain? The chaos is astounding.

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The illuminated United States Capitol building at night under a cloudy sky.
PodcastSocialism

We’ve all seen it in recent years: the leadership of the DNC and the DCCC dictating policy and acceptable “centrist” positions for their chosen candidates. And how well has that worked out? Toward correcting that hierarchy’s grip on the party

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Warning sign showing a person falling off a ledge, highlighting workplace death and injury.
CultureEconomyJusticePodcastSocialism

One of the things Trump has finally accomplished for the economy is shedding needless regulations which hold back business. Or at least that what many believe. Of course it’s not true. Health and Safety regulations build economic strength, according to

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Workers protest for fair pay and respect with signs advocating labor rights.
PodcastProtests & ResistanceSocialism

Two minutes every four years, just going into the voting booth to choose a president, is hardly a sufficient tool to leverage the changes which we both need and are possible. As author Paul Street points out, idling capital is

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Protesters in yellow vests march near Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
CultureInternational NewsPodcastPopulismProtests & ResistanceSocialism

Neither the traditional French Socialist Party nor the right wing National Front, the yellow vest movement sweeping across France is something new, leaving the political powers including President Macron befuddled. With about 70% public support, the people on the streets

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Crowd of people gathered in 1968, black-and-white photo.
CulturePodcastSocialism

What is freedom? Coming from a context of widespread economic security, young people across the US and Europe in 1968 drove older generations crazy with the insistence that there was more. More than the grey flanneled conformity in which we

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A woman smiling and shaking hands at a crowded event.
PodcastPopulismSocialism

When big gets too big, free market capitalism is stifled. The increased concentration of power and wealth undercuts economic freedom. The socialism of FDR’s New Deal very much helped capitalism become more competitive. A big, though lesser known, aspect of

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Protesters take cover behind barricades during a tense clash.
JusticePodcastSocialism

Reached somewhere he won’t specify in Nicaragua, our guest is protecting himself from killings, kidnappings, and the coordinated strategy of roadblocks.The Trump Administration and most of the mainstream press paints a picture of the Sandinista government turning against their own

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Historic large crowd in a city parade along a canal.
PodcastProtests & ResistanceSocialism

It’s celebrated all over the world, except here in America where it all started. It is clear that for unjust power, history has to be erased–otherwise we might assert our democracy. On this special program, the real history of May

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Macron and Trump standing together outside with Macron giving thumbs up.
EconomyPodcastSocialismTrumpWar

The mainstream left of Europe has largely collapsed. Their national economies are trapped by the European Union. The eloquent English speaking Emmanuel Macron, president of France for just a year, on his April trip to Washington, displayed a public “bromance”

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Classic cars on a vibrant street with colorful buildings.
CulturePodcastSocialism

Talk about great mysteries: what do you think of when you hear the name Cuba? Cigar chomping communist dictator? People yearning to breathe free and live like Americans? We get one small picture here while the rest of the world

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Black and white portrait of an elderly bearded man.
PodcastSocialismWar

Fire and fury. Crazy Kim Jong Un. Crazy Trump. Mutual threats of mass destruction. Is there a way out? Of course. Korea scholar Tim Shorrock writes in The Nation that not only did Obama make the situation worse, but that

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Book cover of American Dreamers by Michael Kazin.
CultureEconomyPodcastProtests & ResistanceSocialism

While the left has had very few actual electoral victories, author Michael Kazin argues it has very effectively changed the nation. The author of “A Godly Hero: William Jennings Bryan,” talks about his book “American Dreamers.” What’s gone right and

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Middle-aged man speaking with expressive gesture.
Fiscal PolicyPodcastPopulismSocialism

Is truth still the first casualty of politics? Not in the UK, where Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn stunned PM Teresa May. He dared to tell the truth; authenticity works. So says Marc Weisbrot of the Economic and Policy Research Center. And

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Banner advocating French interests with a nationalistic message.
PodcastPopulismRacismSocialismTrump

How much did the election of Trump turn French voters away from the right wing populist Marine LePen in the May 7th election? To what degree is her party, the National Front, still racist? What is the danger of normalizing

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Book cover titled 'War Against War: The American Fight for Peace 1914-1918'.
PodcastPopulismRacismSocialismWarWomen

They were real conservatives. They worried that our republican form of government was at grave risk if America joined the first world war over there. Michael Kazin’s timely new book is “War Against War: The American Fight for Peace 1914-1918.”

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A neatly trimmed round shrub near a stone structure in a green yard.
EconomyPodcastPopulismSocialismTake ActionTrump

People are asking: what can we do to fight the new authoritarianism? Our guest argues: “People  power need not be confined to a chant.” Keeping decision making close to home is something both right and left can agree on; municipalization

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