Best Sh T Platypus Says Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 76: Tariffs and Trade 1:23:38

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24d ago1:23:38

1:23:38

Bekah welcomes back SPS's resident financial guru to discuss the impact of Trump's tariffs on the state of world finances, markets, and leftist politics on both sides of the Atlantic. ---Further Materials:What is the Relevance of the EU for the Left? (Leipzig, 06/24): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DlJpbdI4rsTariffs, Trade War & the Working Class…

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Ep 75: Immigration & the Left 1:25:14

2M ago1:25:14

1:25:14

Lisa sits down with Erin, Danny, and Tim to discuss recent iterations of our Immigration & the Left Panel, as well as the trajectory of immigration politics from the Millennial Left to the present. ---IMMIGRATION & THE LEFT PANEL SERIESUC San Diego (5/22/25) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_KvcJddPp4Columbia University (4/28/25) - https://www.yo…

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Ep 74: The Left in the 21st Century & Interview with Doug Lain 2:32:18

3M ago2:32:18

2:32:18

We're back with a long episode in two parts. In the first half, Pam, Natalie, and Ed reflect upon the closing plenary of the 2025 Platypus International Convention, "Is there a Left in the 21st Century?" which featured Andrew Hartman (author of Marx in America), Branko Marcetic (Democratic Socialists of America & Jacobin author), Chris Cutrone (Pla…

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Is There a Left in the 21st Century? (2025 International Platypus Convention Teaser) 46:34

6M ago46:34

46:34

Rebekah, Ismail, and Michael introduce the upcoming Platypus International Convention, featuring Bill Ayers, Chris Cutrone, Alex Higgins, Michael Kazin, Branko Marcetic, Dave McKerracher, and Pamela Nogales among many more speakers, teach-ins, and social events. Is There a Left in the 21st Century?April 3rd-5thChicago, ILFull line-up available at h…

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Ep 73: On the German Elections and the Antideutsch 1:59:06

6M ago1:59:06

1:59:06

In this episode of Sh-t Platypus Says, we focus on the German politics in the present and since the aftermath of the New Left.In the first half, Lisa discusses the recent German elections results with Jule, Daron, and Andreas. What does the victory of Friedrich Merz's center-right CDU mean for the Left? In the second half, Lisa sits down with Therr…

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Ep 72: The Right for the Left 1:13:04

8M ago1:13:04

1:13:04

Itsï and Johannes sit down with Chris Cutrone to reflect on last year's summer reading group, The Right for the Left. They discuss the historical difference between the Right and the Left, the prevalence of right-wing ideas on the Left, and how the Left conceded the contestation of ideas to the Right. The full syllabus can be found here: https://pl…

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Ep 71: Nina Power Interview & the United Healthcare Assassination 2:00:21

9M ago2:00:21

2:00:21

Episode 71 comes in two parts: In the first, Pam sits down with Audrey and Itsï to discuss the assassination of United Healthcare's CEO, and what the Left has to say about it. They consider the historical anarchist tactic of the propaganda of the deed, and what Marxism had to say about it. In the second part, Lucy and Wentai interview Nina Power, a…

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Ep 70: Trump's Reelection & Interview with Carlos Garrido 2:14:29

11M ago2:14:29

2:14:29

In this episode, Pam sits down with Platypus members, Ethan and Gabe, to discuss Trump's reelection and the Republicans' victory in Congress, the Left's nostalgia for Bernie along with its efforts to "critique" the Democrats, and the new multiracial coalition behind the GOP. In the second part, Daniel and Itsï sit down with Carlos Garrido, Director…

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Ep 69: Platypus Review Reader 2 Roundtable & Millennial Helplessness 2:11:51

11M ago2:11:51

2:11:51

This episode comes in two parts. At the beginning of this year the PAS published its second installment of the Platypus Review Reader. This volume, in addition to Marxism in the Age of Trump and Chris Cutrone's recent publication The Death of the Millennial Left, are a curated selection of articles in our monthly publication spanning between 2013 a…

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Ep 68: Free Speech & the Left, an interview w/ Nadine Strossen 1:25:14

1y ago1:25:14

1:25:14

On this episode of SPS, Pamela N. and Platypus member Adrienne F. interview Nadine Strossen, an American legal scholar and civil liberties activist. Strossen served as the president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) from 1991 to 2008; she is currently a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Education Expression (FIRE)…

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Ep 67: Kamala IS brat & the Pro-Palestinian Protests 1:17:49

1y ago1:17:49

1:17:49

On this episode of SPS, Sophia and Pam hammer out whether or not Kamala Harris IS brat. They discuss the Republican National Convention and the consolidation of the new Republican Party under Trump. In the main segment, Andreas W and Pam N. sit down with Platypus members Ali (Australian National University), Hayes (University of Chicago) and Eli (U…

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Ep 66: AfD & Sahra Wagenknecht in Germany, Anarchism on the West Coast 1:32:54

1+ y ago1:32:54

1:32:54

Episode 66 comes in two parts.In our first segment, Lisa sits down with German members Jan and Henry to discuss post-neoliberal transformations in German politics, understood through the AfD and Sahra Wagenknecht's split from Die Linke. In the second segment, Andony talks with fellow West Coast members Octavio, Colin, Ishmael, and Hoang about anarc…

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Ep 65: The Platypus International Convention & EuroCon Reflections 1:26:48

1+ y ago1:26:48

1:26:48

Episode 65 comes in two parts: In the first segment, Andreas talks with Platypus members Clay (Chicago) and Ethan (Philadelphia) about the upcoming Platypus International Convention, taking place in Chicago April 4-7 under the title "What is Left after Trump?". They discuss the various panel topics of this year's 16th Platypus Convention as well as…

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Ep 64: Revolutionary Communism in Australia (Reds: RCO) 1:02:33

1+ y ago1:02:33

1:02:33

In this episode of Shit Platypus Says, we introduce the first segment of Reds, a series examining the growth of new communist organizations around the world.Hosts Tamas, Lisa, and Rebekah discuss the impetus for such a series: the sudden growth of self-styled communist organizations after a decade of social democratic activity on the Left and a dis…

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2024 European Conference Teaser 20:50

1+ y ago20:50

20:50

Andreas sits down with Berlin-based members Jakob and Tamas to discuss the upcoming sixth annual Platypus European Conference, set to take place January 25th through the 27th.Further info can be found at:https://100yearsafterlenin.com---A century after Lenin’s death, the Platypus Affiliated Society aims to critically examine the legacy of the failu…

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Ep 63: Left Perspectives on Israel & Palestine 2:16:06

2y ago2:16:06

2:16:06

This special holiday episode of SPS comes in three parts: (1) In order to make sense of the present, Platypus is hosting an international series of panels "Left Perspectives on the Israel-Palestine Conflict". In the first segment, member Gabe G. and Pamela N. reflect on the first panel of the series, which took place at the University of Chicago. T…

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Ep. 62: On Protests in France 1:08:20

2y ago1:08:20

1:08:20

We discuss this year's protests in France around police brutality, pension reform, and cost of living with our members Lucas from Bretagne and Paul from Vienna, as well as check in with Parisian protestors with Kristian. To stay up to date with Platypus France, get in touch at:platypusfrance [at] gmail [dot] comor visit:https://www.platypusfrance.o…

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Ep. 61: On Russell Brand & Barbie, and an interview w/ Benjamin Studebaker 1:51:30

2y ago1:51:30

1:51:30

On this special back-to-school episode of SPS, Pamela & Laurie discuss the recent Russell Brand controversy. Brand has been in the news lately, under some heat, as a result of public allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. We take this up in the context of the ongoing sex panic and the ongoing transformation of feminism after #metoo, which le…

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Ep. 60: On Szikra & Hungarian Politics 56:10

2y ago56:10

56:10

In this episode of SPS, Tamas sits down with Aram Shakkour (@ShaqArama) of the Szikra Movement (@SzikraMozgalom), an oppositional movement based around Budapest, Hungary. They discuss the state of leftist politics in Hungary after the oppositional coalition which Szikra supported, United for Hungary, failed to stop Viktor Orbán’s FIDESZ from winnin…

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Ep. 59: On the German Platypus Review #23 1:06:42

2y ago1:06:42

1:06:42

In this episode, the Editor-in-Chief of the German Platypus Review, Tobias Rochlitz, sits down with Platypus members Stefan H, Jan BH, and our co-host Lisa M, all of whom contributed to the content of the special PR issue on Gender, to discuss an reflect upon the interview with Koschka Linkerhand, Tove Soiland and the panel discussion 'Gender and t…

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Ep 58: On Trump's Indictment & 100 Years of Lukács 1:04:04

2y ago1:04:04

1:04:04

In this episode Pamela and Laurie discuss the Trump indictment, DeSantis, and the conservative “resolution” to the crisis of neoliberalism through the Culture Wars. In our main segment, Platypus members from Vienna, Berlin, Melbourne and Chicago reflect on the Platypus panel, "A Century of Critical Theory: The Legacy of György Lukács,” (April 1st, …

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Ep. 57: On the Crisis of DIE LINKE & interviews at the Conference on "Revolutionärer Bruch" 58:52

2+ y ago58:52

58:52

In the first part of this episode, Lisa is joined by our German members Jakob, Nezam and Sebastian to discuss the crisis and history of DIE LINKE. They reflect on Platypus panels, interviews, and PR articles to think about the recent manifestations of the crisis within DIE LINKE and the radical Left's relation to the party. They talk about the inte…

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SPS #56: Spencer Leonard on Marx & Engels 54:26

2+ y ago54:26

54:26

On this episode of SPS, Pamela & Andreas interview Spencer Leonard. Spencer is a founding member of Platypus and has recently published a two-volume selection of Marx & Engels journalism. The first volume focuses on Bonapartism, with selections from 1851–1859, and the second focuses on their writings on imperialism, with selections from 1856–1862. …

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SPS #55: The Platypus International Convention, and Anti-imperialism & the Left 1:06:13

2+ y ago1:06:13

1:06:13

On this episode of SPS, we first focus on our Annual International Convention (March 29–April 1), which will take place in Chicago, at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, & the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Planning committee members, Ryan & Ethan introduce the convention theme, panels, and historical concerns across the u…

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Ep. 54: Interview w/ Chris Cutrone on his "The end of the Gilded Age" article 1:05:21

2+ y ago1:05:21

1:05:21

This episode includes an interview with Platypus founding member Chris Cutrone, who was interviewed by Johannes K. and Lisa on his article “The end of the Gilded Age: Discontents of the Second Industrial Revolution today”. They talked about the history of progressivism, the deferred problems of the Gilded Age that still impact us today, the unfulfi…

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Ep. 53: The Elections & the Left, and Platypus Review #152 1:23:58

2+ y ago1:23:58

1:23:58

In the first part of this episode, Lisa & Rebekah are joined by members, Laurie R. & Jasper to talk about how Platypus has captured the relationship between the Left & the elections. They have gone into the archives of the Platypus Affiliated Society, and have asked how our work can help us to think about these inflection points on the Left across …

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Ep. 52: Interviews at the UC Strike & 'End Fossil: Occupy' Protests 1:11:57

2+ y ago1:11:57

1:11:57

On this special holiday episode, SPS brings to you reports from protests in the USA, Germany and Austria. We include shotgun interviews with participants and reflections by our members. In the first segment, our West Coast members interview the academic workers part of the strikes at the University of California. They ask the strikers at the LA and…

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Ep. 51: On the Brazilian & US Midterm Elections 1:05:21

3y ago1:05:21

1:05:21

On this episode of SPS, Pamela first sits down with Platypus Brazilian members Paulo & Rosa. They comment on the election results, how the Left is responding to the return of Lula, and what the election of the Brazilian Workers Party means for the future of a socialist Left. In the second part, Platypus Oregon member Andony hosts a roundtable conve…

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Ep. 50: The Cost of Living Protests, & Platypus on Sexual Liberation 1:28:16

3y ago1:28:16

1:28:16

Our 50th anniversary SPS episode comes in two parts. First, we cover the on-going cost of living protests organized by the Left in the U.K, Germany and Austria. Co-hosts Lisa and Andreas attended protests in Leipzig and Vienna, where they recorded soundbites and interviews with several leftist activists. Later, they discuss these interviews and the…

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Ep. 49: An interview w/ Emanuel Rota & the New Zealand Left Today 1:22:18

3y ago1:22:18

1:22:18

In the first segment, our European Correspondent, Andreas W. interviews Emanuel Rota, a leftist historian from Italy who published extensively on the history of the Italian Communist party. He currently lives in the US and is the director of the European Union Center at the University of Illinois. They discuss the aftermath of the "Long '68" in Ita…

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V. Platypus European Conference (SPS Teaser) 15:28

3y ago15:28

15:28

This is a stand alone SPS segment to promote and introduce our fifth Platypus European Conference in Vienna, from 8 - 10 September, 2022. Lisa and Rebekah interview the lead organizers of the conference, Victor and Andreas. They talk about the different events of the conference and how they relate to its title "The Crisis of Society and the Left" a…

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Ep. 48: The Great Resignation & an Interview w/ Andy Gittlitz 1:08:32

3y ago1:08:32

1:08:32

On this episode of SPS, our resident financial guru sits down with Pamela to discuss the so-called Great Resignation, or “Big Quit”. They take up the concerns over birth rates & mental illness, as well as how social democratic policies naturalize the crisis of capital. In the second half of the episode, Pamela interviews Andy Gittlitz, cohost of th…

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Ep 47: On Depp v. Heard, the Ukrainian War, and Platypus Summer Readings 1:28:00

3+ y ago1:28:00

1:28:00

On this episode of SPS, Pamela and Sophia discuss the Depp v. Heard and the exhaustion of #metoo. Andreas and Platypus members, Sebastian Vogel interview Boris Kagarlitsky on the war in Ukraine and the Russian Left. Finally, Lisa and Rebekah sit down with Chris Cutrone to discuss the Platypus Summer Reading Group on classical social theory, titled …

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Ep 46: Roe v. Wade & the Left; Reflections on the Platypus Convention 2022 1:03:46

3+ y ago1:03:46

1:03:46

In this episode of SPS, Pamela sits down with Platypus member Tana F. to discuss the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade and the responses by the Left, including Marxist Humanist member, Mike Dola, and the Socialist Workers Party's newspaper, The Militant. They talk about what it means to defend constitutional rights absent an independent working …

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Ep. 45: 2022 Platypus International Convention & the German Platypus Review 51:30

3+ y ago51:30

51:30

In the first part of the episode our co-hosts Lisa Müller und Rebekah Parlar sit down with Platypus member Clint Montgomery to talk about our annual international Platypus Convention. Our international Convention, which is sort of the highlight in your platypus calendar, will take place in Chicago from the 31st of March until April the 3rd. In the …

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Ep. 44: After the Freedom Convoy & the Hungarian Left Today 1:06:57

3+ y ago1:06:57

1:06:57

On this two-part episode of SPS, Pamela sits with Leila Mechoi, the co-host of Red Star Radio podcast. They reflect on the Left's reaction to the late trucker protest in Canada, and discuss the role of civil liberties in the organization of the working class, as well as what sort of missed political opportunity -- if any -- did the protest present.…

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Ep. 43: On the Freedom Convoy, the Austrian Communist Party (KPÖ) & 2021 Platypus Highlights 1:19:12

3+ y ago1:19:12

1:19:12

On this episode, Pamela sits down with our Toronto member Cam Hardy to discuss Canada's "Freedom Convoy", and the responses by the "Left". They investigate Jacobin's hot take on the "inauthentic" working-class character of the protests, and the call by the Canadian Communist Party to criminalize the convoy. In the second segment, Andreas interviews…

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Ep 42: The Concept of the Left, a special Xmas edition 31:02

3+ y ago31:02

31:02

In this special Xmas edition of SPS, your new hosts of the "Sh-t Platypus Does" segment, Rebekah and Lisa, chat with the Platypus Review Editor-in-Chief, Lou, about the new issue, PR #142 -- including articles: "What can one learn from the Right?" by D.L. Jacobs, "The Left is not a concept" by Benedict Cryptofash, "We are the city-building tendency…

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Ep. 41: On Rittenhouse & Aussie Protests against the Vaccine Mandate 1:17:58

4y ago1:17:58

1:17:58

On this episode of SPS, Sophia and Pamela sit down with Spencer L., founding member of Platypus and historian of imperialism, to discuss the Rittenhouse trial and the “Left’s” response. They clear up the confusion around the Second Amendment among todays leftists, address the anti-racism of progressive liberals, and take up responses by Daniel Laza…

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Ep 40: On Chappelle & The End of the End of History 1:03:37

4y ago1:03:37

1:03:37

For this episode of SPS, Sophia and Pamela take up Dave Chappelle's latest Netflix special, "The Closer," and the blowback following its release. For the main segment, Sophia catches up with the makers behind the Aufhebunga Bunga pod, Alex Hochuli and George Hoare, to discuss their new book, The End of the End of History: Politics in the Twenty-Fir…

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Ep. 39: On the NBA's Vaccine Blues, the German Elections, & Protests Today 1:01:50

4y ago1:01:50

1:01:50

On this episode of SPS, Pamela and the Platypus Review Editor-in-Chief, Lou S. chat about the recent NBA crack-up over vaccine skepticism and discuss the articles in the new issue of the Platypus Review. Andreas, our EU correspondent, reports from the frontlines of a protest camp in the North East of Vienna. And, in the last segment, Andreas sits w…

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Ep. 38: On Afghanistan, Podemos, & the Frankfurt School today 1:08:50

4y ago1:08:50

1:08:50

On this episode of SPS, Pamela and Sophia discuss the Biden bungle of the Afghanistan withdrawal and the responses by the “Left,” including Tariq Ali for the New Left Review and Branko Marcetic for Jacobin. SPS European Correspondent Andreas interviews Eduardo Maura, from the Spanish party Podemos, and asks him to reflect on his political trajector…

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Ep 37: On the Berlin Housing Protests, and the Danish Left & Academic Freedom 1:07:25

4y ago1:07:25

1:07:25

On this three-part episode of SPS, Sophia and the Editor of the Platypus Review, Lou Sterrett, give a teaser of what’s inside the latest issue.In the second segment, our European Correspondent Andreas Wintersperger catches up with Ian Cassidy. Originally from Ireland, Cassidy is a Berlin-based activist, working for the campaign 'Deutsche Wohnen & c…

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Ep 36: On Judas & the Black Messiah, Kill the Bill and Platypus Summer Readings 1:22:55

4+ y ago1:22:55

1:22:55

On this three-part episode of SPS, Sophia and Pamela catch up to discuss Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah (2021). They reflect upon the director’s interpretation of the Black Panther Party and how questions of black nationalism, the police and the authoritarian state bear on our present moment. In the second segment Sophia sits down with No…

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Ep. 35 On May 1st, and Platypus in Australia 40:46

4+ y ago40:46

40:46

On this episode of SPS, Sophia, Pamela and Platypus member Erin report on the Kill the Bill & May 1st protests in London, Berlin and New York. In the second half members Ryan and Sam reflect upon seeding a Platypus chapter in Melbourne Australia. We discuss encounters with local Leftist groups, what Adam Smith has to teach us about bourgeois societ…

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Ep. 34: On Adam Curtis & a History of the Present 49:55

4+ y ago49:55

49:55

On this episode of SPS, Sophia, Pamela and Andreas are joined by Aarhus Platypus member, Victor Cova, to discuss the Adam Curtis documentary series, "Can't Get You Out of My Head: An Emotional History of the Modern World" (2021). We cover the response to the series by the Socialist Workers Party (UK), Doug Lain (Zero Books) and Red Scare podcast. W…

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Ep. 33: On Andrew Cuomo, Gina Carano, & our 2nd German Conference 44:52

4+ y ago44:52

44:52

Sophia and Pamela talk about the allegations that Governor Cuomo covered up mishandlings of the COVID-19 crisis and the firing of actress Gina Carano from Disney’s the Mandalorian. In the last segment our German correspondent Andreas Wintersperger catches up with Platypus members from our Leipzig and Berlin chapters to discuss the panels on COVID-1…

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Ep. 32: On Brad Troemel, and Art & the Capitalist State 54:53

4+ y ago54:53

54:53

In this special episode of SPS, we discuss Joe Biden's inauguration and the relationship between Art and the capitalist state. Professional creative artists are facing unemployment at rates well above the national average. We take up the proposals for WPA-style intervention, a Ministry of Culture, and a White House Office for Culture. In the second…

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Ep. 31: On Social Media Censorship & Left Responses to the Terror Attacks 1:19:17

4+ y ago1:19:17

1:19:17

In the latest episode of the cancel culture saga, social media companies have taken into their own hands to censor content. Trump’s tweets, Zero Book’s videos, & Brad Troemel’s memes, have all been subject to the policing eye of so-called “fact checkers.” In the first part of this episode, Laurie joins Pamela to discuss the new wave of censorship u…

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Ep. 30: The Left After the Election 2020 55:54

5y ago55:54

55:54

***U.S. election special***On this episode Pamela and Sophia catch up with Conrad Cartmell (Class Unity caucus, DSA), Mara Henao & Kaitlin Buck (Philly Socialists) and Benjamin Studebaker (British Academic Union) to reflect upon the Left under Trump - and what lies ahead under a Biden administration. This episode contributes to a larger body of wor…