Dead Pundits Society

[This is a free preview of our full-length Patreon episode for the week. Subscribe for $5/month at www.patreon.com/deadpundits for full access] In the wake of primary victories for open socialists in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, Daniel Marans joins me to discuss the electoral prospects of the left going into 2018 and beyond. We discuss those primary victories and the challenges faced by socialists and progressives running on the Democratic Party ballot line. Find Daniel's most relevant article here: -"Socialist-Backed Candidates Sweep Pennsylvania State House Primaries," https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pennsylvania-dsa-major-primary-wins-state-house_us_5afbba0fe4b06a3fb50bb5d7 -------------------------- Patreon: www.patreon.com/deadpundits Twitter: @deadpundits Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/deadpundits iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1212081214 Facebook: facebook.com/deadpunditssociety

This B-Side with Leo Panitch from Fall of 2017 is so good that we've decided to unlock it for all to enjoy. In this interview, I sat down with Leo Panitch to ask what it means to be a socialist intellectual. He reflects on his 50 years on the left, and shares stories about Ralph Miliband, Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn and many others. We were inspired to unlock this B-Side after hearing an excellent interview w/ Leo on All the Best Podcast. Check it out here: https://soundcloud.com/novaramedia/all-the-best-the-leo-panitch-show ***Support the new left agenda by becoming a member of the Dead Pundits Society. $5/month gives you access to our weekly subscriber-only content.*** --------------------- Twitter: @deadpundits Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/deadpundits Facebook: facebook.com/deadpunditssociety iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1212081214 Patreon: www.patreon.com/deadpundits

We're currently in between Season 1 and Season 2, so we've decided to take the opportunity to reproduce the "State Theory and Socialist Strategy Series" from 2017 in a more linear and coherent fashion. Old and new listeners, alike, will benefit from this presentation that will unfold over the next week, which develops a critical analysis of the relationship between the capitalist state and socialist strategy. Adam Hilton, visiting lecturer in Politics at Mount Holyoke College, is on the show to talk about the history of the Democratic Party and its interaction with the left. Can the Democratic Party be used as an instrument of socialist advance? And what is the nature of the Democratic Party, anyway? Tune in to find out. Find some of Adam's writings here: -"Bernie and the Search for New Politics," www.jacobinmag.com/2015/06/bernie-…unions-mcgovern -"Searching for New Politics," www.jacobinmag.com/2016/02/bernie-…ignment-primary ***To get access to the B-Side of this week's episode, go to www.patreon.com/de

We're currently in between Season 1 and Season 2, so we've decided to take the opportunity to reproduce the "State Theory and Socialist Strategy Series" from 2017 in a more linear and coherent fashion. Old and new listeners, alike, will benefit from this presentation that will unfold over the next week, which develops a critical analysis of the relationship between the capitalist state and socialist strategy. Joining me this week to talk about corporations and the capitalist state is Steve Maher. Steve is a PhD Candidate at York University and Assistant Editor of the Socialist Register. We discuss the history of American capitalism and the transformations in the corporate structure. This is not merely an academic exercise — these transformations have tremendous impacts on the terrain of struggle for progressives and socialists, alike. Check out some of Steve’s relevant writings here: -“G.E.’s Switch,” www.jacobinmag.com/2017/07/ge-imme…ssion-investors

***Head over to patreon.com/deadpundits to listen to t

We're currently in between Season 1 and Season 2, so we've decided to take the opportunity to reproduce the "State Theory and Socialist Strategy Series" from 2017 in a more linear and coherent fashion. Old and new listeners, alike, will benefit from this presentation that will unfold over the next week, which develops a critical analysis of the relationship between the capitalist state and socialist strategy. Ep. 2 features a discussion from early fall of 2017 on the surge of the UK Labour Party and the pitfalls that they'll face while governing a capitalist state from the left. Joining me this week to talk about the pitfalls of social democracy and the Labour Party’s bid to transform the UK state is Leo Panitch. Leo has been the editor of the Socialist Register for over 35 years, and is the author of many books. We reflect on the role of socialist forces in the capitalist state, the failures of SYRIZA in Greece, and just what kind of force is necessary to usher in socialism for regular-ass people. Check o

We're currently in between Season 1 and Season 2, so we've decided to take the opportunity to reproduce the "State Theory and Socialist Strategy Series" from 2017 in a more linear and coherent fashion. Old and new listeners, alike, will benefit from this presentation that will unfold over the next week, which develops a critical analysis of the relationship between the capitalist state and socialist strategy. Ep. 1 is a 175-year trek through Marxian state theory, from Marx and Engels to present. Joining me this week to talk about Marxian and Neo-Marxian State Theory is Rafael Khachaturian, a scholar and research associate at the University of Pittsburgh. We argue for the centrality of the capitalist state in our approach to achieving Socialism for Regular-Ass People, and we break down the concept of the state from Marx to Present What is the State? Why does it matter? What did Marx, Lenin, and others have to say about it? How about Gramsci, Miliband, Poulantzas and many others? Tune in to find out. Check

We're currently in between Season 1 and Season 2, so we've decided to take the opportunity to reproduce the "Anti-Essentialism Series" from the summer of 2017 in a more linear and coherent fashion. Old and new listeners, alike, will benefit from this presentation that will unfold over the next week, which develops a critical analysis of the relationship between capitalism and the creation of marginalized identities (race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.) Joining me this week to continue our Anti-Essentialism Series is Walter Benn Michaels. We talk about the transformation of race science to cultural essentialism, and why we love diversity and hate inequality. Walter is a distinguished literary and social critic, and one of the leading theorists of anti-essentialism, so you won't want to miss this interview. Walter's most relevant book, The Trouble with Diversity, can be found here: www.amazon.com/Trouble-Diversity…ity/dp/0805083316 -"The Political Economy of Anti-Racism," http://nonsite.org/article/the-

We're currently in between Season 1 and Season 2, so we've decided to take the opportunity to reproduce the "Anti-Essentialism Series" from the summer of 2017 in a more linear and coherent fashion. Old and new listeners, alike, will benefit from this presentation that will unfold over the next week, which develops a critical analysis of the relationship between capitalism and the creation of marginalized identities (race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.) Episode 3 features an interview on the "Black (Mis)leadership Class." Joining me this week to expand on my recent episodes on race and class is author and political commentator, Pascal Robert. We talk about a whole range of issues: the Haitian Revolution, black nationalism, racial uplift politics, whiteness studies, race management, racial disparity statistics, and, finally, Pascal rips into Ta-Nahesi Coates. Robert is *fire* on the mic, so you’re not going to want to miss this episode! Check out Pascal’s work for the Black Agenda Report: www.blackagend

We're currently in between Season 1 and Season 2, so we've decided to take the opportunity to reproduce the "Anti-Essentialism Series" from the summer of 2017 in a more linear and coherent fashion. Old and new listeners, alike, will benefit from this presentation that will unfold over the next week, which develops a critical analysis of the relationship between capitalism and the creation of marginalized identities (race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.) Episode 2 will feature my interview with Cedric Johnson on the legacy of black power politics and its impact on our current struggles against racism. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, the topic of "race and class" has been widely debated amongst socialists and progressives. Joining me this week to build on this discussion is Cedric Johnson, Associate Professor of African American Studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago. He has an article in the first issue of Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy called "The Panthers Can't Save u

We're currently in between Season 1 and Season 2, so we've decided to take the opportunity to reproduce the "Anti-Essentialism Series" from the summer of 2017 in a more linear and coherent fashion. Old and new listeners, alike, will benefit from this presentation that will unfold over the next week, which develops a critical analysis of the relationship between capitalism and the creation of marginalized identities (race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.) Episode 1 will revisit my discussion with Vivek Chibber: "What is class and why does it matter?" We discuss Vivek's article from Catalyst, Vol 1, Issue 1, called "Rescuing Class from the Cultural Turn," https://catalyst-journal.com/vol1/no1/cultural-turn-vivek-chibber *** Support the new left agenda by joining the Dead Pundits Society on Patreon and get access to the full back catalog of B-Sides and subscriber-only content: www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** ----------------------- Twitter: @deadpundits Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/deadpundits Facebook:

Joining me for Part 3 of our "Finance for Regular-Ass People" series is Michael McCarthy, assistant professor of sociology at Marquette University. Just what is financialization and how has it altered society and the terrain of socialist struggle? Tune in to find out! Financialization for Regular-Ass People. Mike is the author Dismantling Solidarity: Capitalist Politics and American Pensions since the New Deal - http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100439360 Find his article, "The Monetary Hawks," here: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/08/paul-volcker-ronald-reagan-fed-shock-inflation-unions ***Join the Dead Pundits Society today for access to our entire catalog of B-Sides, featuring additonal interviews with our amazing cast of guest: www.patreon.com/deadpundits*** ----------------------------- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1212081214 Twitter: @deadpundits Facebook: www.facebook.com/deadpunditssociety Patreon: www.patreon.com/deadpundits

Joining us this week to talk about the decline of pensions and our social safety net is Michael McCarthy, assistant professor of sociology at Marquette University. We discuss a recent study that found a large number of millennials are relying on socialism for their retirement needs. We then move on to a discussion about the history of pensions covered in Michael's book, Dismantling Solidarity: Capitalist Politics and American Pensions since the New Deal: http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100439360. Find some of Michael's writings here: -"Worked to Death," https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/04/retirement-social-security-pensions-welfare-state-workers -Dismantling Solidarity: Capitalist Politics and American Pensions since the New Deal (2017): https://www.amazon.com/Dismantling-Solidarity-Capitalist-Politics-American/dp/1501713175 ------------------------------------------- Patreon: www.patreon.com/deadpundits Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/deadpundits iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podca

Ed Rooksby, Tutor in Politics and Social Sciences at Ruskin College in Oxford, joins us to talk about structural reform and socialist strategy. We kick things off with a discussion of the UCU strike in the UK, which has turned out to to be the largest academic-sector labor action in modern history. We then transition to a discussion of SYRIZA and socialist strategy along with a healthy dose of Neo-Marxian state theory. 

Check out Ed’s essay, “‘Structural Reform’ & the Problem of Socialist Strategy Today”: https://edrooksby.wordpress.com/2018/03/21/structural-reform-the-problem-of-socialist-strategy-today. Also relevant is Ed’s piece in Jacobin on the UCU Strike from a couple of weeks ago: “No Capitulation,” https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/03/university-college-union-strike-capitulation-deal ***To access the B-Side of this interview and to support the new left agenda, head over to www.patreon.com/deadpundits and subscribe today*** ——————————————- Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/deadpundits iTunes: itunes

***The following is a preview of this week's B-Side. To get access to the full interview, join the Dead Pundits Society on Patreon. Support the new left agenda and get a new B-Side almost every week along with 30+ hours of exclusive interviews: www.patreon.com/deadpundits*** Joining us on the B-Side this week is Leslie Lee III, co-host of Struggle Session Podcast. We pick up the conversation from the A-Side and go all the way in on the notions of representational politics with respect to Black Panther and Get Out. These takes are so hot that only members of the Dead Pundits Society can handle them, so join at patreon.com/deadpundits for access today. ------------------ Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/deadpundits iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1212081214 Facebook: facebook.com/deadpunditssociety Twitter: @deadpundits

Joining me this week to talk about Black Panther is Leslie Lee III, co-host of Struggle Session Podcast. We discuss his view of the movie, itself, and the state of black radical politics in the wake of its record-breaking reception. There are most definitely spoilers in this episode, but I’m confident that those who haven’t seen the movie (really??) will still enjoy the episode, so have no fear if you have been living under a rock. 

 Check out Leslie’s article here: -“Did Anyone Else Pick Up on the Disturbing Messages in Marvel's 'Black Panther’?” https://www.alternet.org/culture/disturbingly-conservative-message-behind-marvels-revolutionary-black-panther Other articles mentioned in the episode: -Christopher Lebron, “‘Black Panther’ Is Not the Movie We Deserve,” http://bostonreview.net/race/christopher-lebron-black-panther -Ainehi Edoro and Bhakti Shringarpure, “Africa is a Country in Wakanda," http://africasacountry.com/2018/02/africa-is-a-country-in-wakanda/ -Russell Bickford, “I have a problem wit

Joining me this week to continue our “Finance for Regular-Ass People” series is Mike Beggs, senior lecturer in Political Economy at the University of Sydney. We discuss the workings of capitalist finance, socialist transformation, full employment, inflation, and the decline of labor in the 1970s. In the midst of the sparks and shoots of the next upsurge in left politics, we must learn the lessons of the past so that we can be ready next time around. Tune in for a great discussion on capitalist finance and socialist transformation. ***The B-Side with Mike will be dropping in a few days. To get access to that and dozens of hours of subscriber-only content, join the Dead Pundits Society today: www.patreon.com/deadpundits*** 

Check out some of Mike’s relevant writings here: 

-Zombie Marx, “https://www.jacobinmag.com/2011/07/zombie-marx" -“The Keynesian Counterrevolution,” https://jacobinmag.com/2018/02/keynes-general-theory-mann-review -“Jobs for All,” https://jacobinmag.com/2016/12/full-employment-job

Joining me this week is Daniel Denvir, host of The Dig Podcast and author of a new piece at In These Times on gun control called, “We Can Fight for Gun Control Without Locking People Up.” We talk about the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida and what kind of movement needs to coalesce around these students in order to make it successful. We deal with a number of controversial questions concerning the left and guns: Should the left fight for gun control? How do we achieve gun control without locking people up? What do we make of the legacy of guns and the black freedom struggle? Check out Daniel’s writings on guns control here: -“We Can Fight for Gun Control Without Locking People Up,” http://inthesetimes.com/article/20947/gun-control-disarm-police-mass-incarceration-parkland-socialism-nra -“A Better Gun Control,” https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/09/gun-control-mass-incarceration-drug-war-nra-shooters ***To catch my B-Side conversation with Daniel, head over to www.patreon.com/deadpundits and s

Joining me this week to talk about the stock market and finance is Huffington Post finance journalist, Zachary Carter. We discuss the origins and functions of the stock market, the role of Wall Street in capitalism, and the role of Keynesian economic analysis in developing social and political policy. 

ECONOMICS FOR REGULAR-ASS PEOPLE

You can find some of Zach’s relevant writings here: -“Everything You Should Know About The Stock Market,” https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/stock-market-matters_us_5a7b4964e4b044b38218a49e -“Why You Shouldn’t Freak Out Even If The Stock Market Does,” https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/stock-market-dont-freak-out_us_5a846bc5e4b0774f31d15aaf

 -“Janet Yellen Was A Great Fed Chair. So Why Is The Economy Still Broken?” https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/janet-yellen-federal-chair-economy_us_5a6a19c2e4b0ddb658c4716a ***Support the new left agenda by joining the Dead Pundits Society at www.patreon.com/deadpundits***

 ——————————— Twitter: @deadpundits Soundcloud: www.s

Joining me this week is Adaner Usmani. We discuss his latest essay in Jacobin (co-authored with Connor Kilpatrick) titled "The New Communists." They argue that it's time to leave the iconography and inward-facing legacy of 1917 behind and forge a socialism that addresses people's lived concerns in 2018. SOCIALISM FOR REGULAR-ASS PEOPLE Check out Adaner's writings here: -"The New Communists," https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/12/the-new-communists -"Did Liberals Give us Mass Incarceration?" https://catalyst-journal.com/vol1/no3/did-liberals-give-us-mass-incarceration I also mentioned this important essay by Ralph Miliband during the interview: "Moving On," https://www.marxists.org/archive/miliband/1976/xx/moveon.htm ***To access the B-Side to this week's episode, which will be out in a few days, subscribe to the Dead Pundits Society at www.patreon.com/deadpundits*** ---------------------- Twitter: @deadpundits iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1212081214 Faceobook: www.facebook.com/deadpunditss

Joining me this week are Angela Nagle and Amber A'Lee Frost. We discuss the dirtbag left, the culture wars and the kind of socialism for normies that is so badly needed. Tune in for Naglemania and stay for the Frostival. ... yeesh... just listen, ok? Dateline ABC segment on the Kill All Normies Documentary: http://abcnews.go.com/US/documentary-alt-sheds-light-movements-alleged-roots/story?id=52420449 Readings mentioned on the show: -Mark Fisher, "Exiting the Vampire Castle," http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=11299 -Mark Fisher, "Why Mental Health is a Political Issue," https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jul/16/mental-health-political-issue -Nina Power, "In Memoriam," https://ninapower.net/2018/01/13/in-memoriam-mark-fisher-january-13th/ -G.M. Tamás, "Telling the Truth About Class," http://www.grundrisse.net/grundrisse22/tellingTheTruthAboutClass.htm ***Join the Dead Pundits Society to support the new left agenda and to get access to our back catalog of subscriber-only content. A mere $5/month w