Rev Left Radio posts
Posts: 609
Files: 1710
New Years Reflection: Reviewing 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025 & Beyond
It's time for our annual Revolutionary Guerrilla Menace episode, where we crossover with Rev Left and the Red Menace in order to review the past year in world events and look forward to what we think will be coming in the next year. Breht, Alyson, Adnan, and Henry discuss Palestine, BRICS, the Alliance of Sahel States, global capitalism, and much more, so be sure to tune in and share widely! T...
Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism (feat: Upstream Podcast)
Alyson and Breht were invited to join Robbie on the Upstream podcastto talk about Lenin's "Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism".Capitalism, imperialism, monopoly—far from being separate concepts that just happen to take shape parallel to one another or to overlap from time to time, these terms all really refer to the exact same overall process. We call it capitalism because ...
The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism
Torkil Lauesen joins Breht to discuss his newest book "The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism".Together they discuss the book, why capitalism is ripe for replacement, the importance of historical and dialectical materialism, the history of socialist movements and revolutions, each revolutions unique contributions to the historical process of socialism, the core and...
The German Revolution
Alyson and Breht finally dive into the German Revolution of 1918! Together they discuss this rather ambigious revolution, give a detailed overview of events, and reflect on what lessons we can learn from it. From the toppling of the Kaiser, to the brutal fight between social democrats and communists (including the horrible murders of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht), to the rise of the Freikorp...
Red Hot Take: Deny, Defend, Depose...
Breht gently and lovingly gives his unique and nuanced perspective on the murder of the CEO of Healthcare United.Outro Song: To Cause Your Own Death by Mon Rovia
Climate Vanguard: Organizing Toward a Livable Future
Inea, Noah, and Jack from Climate Vanguard join Breht to discuss their organization, the role of youth in the struggle for a livable future, the various ecological crises facing us, eco-leninism and the importance of the Party in eco-socialist struggle, practical revolutionary political strategy, the essential role of anti-imperialism and anti-colonialism, degrowth, climate change, the interrelate...
Philosophy Series: Marx on History, Communism, & Political Economy
Breht listens to, reflects on, and critically engages with a public lecture by the late philosopher Michael Sugrue entititled "Marx on Alienation and Ideology". Professor Sugrue passed away recently, and Breht has always found his free, public lectures on philosophy to be helpful and really well done. In the spirit of free and open access to education, Breht offers his knowledge of Marxist...
Shoeless in South Dakota: Shoeless In An Uncanny Valley
Once in a while I like to post episodes from our other podcast, Shoeless in South Dakota, for the Rev Left audience. Its certainly not everyone's cup of tea, but some of you may find it interesting or even entertaining. We do scripted skits for our cold opens, and absurdist bits throughout the ep, as well as discussions about mental health, addiction, recovery, philosophy, and more. All sprink...
The Stalin Eras: Part One Discussion (1917-1929)
From Breht's guest-hosting spot on Prolespod:"Breht O’Shea, host of Revolutionary Left Radio, joins to guide a discussion based on the events covered in the narrative for Part One (which you should listen too first, if you haven’t already!).In this discussion, the gang led by Rae and Jeremy answer wide ranging questions about the nature of Stalin’s rise to prominence in the party, Le...
Shattering The Spectacle: Trump, Kamala, & the US Election
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 pl...
Capitalism: A Horror Story
On this Halloween, Jon Greenawayreturns 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, a...
Abolish Rent: How Tenants Can End The Housing Crisis
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 l...
Yahya Sinwar: Living and Dying for National Liberation
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
For Land: The Capitalist Mode of Production and the Sixth Mass Extinction Event
James from Prolekultjoins 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 hype...
Apartheid in the West Bank: Israeli Fascism, Settler Violence, & Palestinian Resilience
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...
War in West Asia: When Dying Settler Colonies Lash Out
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 actuallyrunning the Biden adminstration, Kamala and Trump tripping ...
Exploring Political Theory: Liberal Socialism
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 Wollstonecroft, and John Rawls, wrestle with the questions ...
On Mysticism II: Enlightenment, Non-Duality, & Perennialism
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 ...
Tenant Organizing w/ Omaha Tenants United
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 HEREGet 15% off any book at Left Wing Books HERE
Art for the People and the Maoist Communist Union
Space from Art For The People andThomas O'Connell from MCU 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:http...
On The Ground in Gaza: Service as Solidarity
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 HEREDonate to Fidaa and her children in Gaza HERELearn more about Rahma WorldwideHERELearn more about Jewish Voices for PeaceHERELear...
All Too Human: Christian's Struggle with Meth, Alcohol, & Incarceration
In this fourth edition of ourAll 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, methamphetamines, and incarceration. This is the first time Breht and Christian have seen each other in 15 years!With these All Too Human interviews, we aim to highlight and desti...
Revolutionary Strategy and the Industrial Proletariat
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 Fight to Free The Pendleton 2!
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 Correct...
"Ivan's Childhood" by Andrei Tarkovsky: The Children are Always Ours...
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 ...
Rev Left Fantasy Football League
Hey everyone, I am re-booting our fantasy football league (espn app) from last year. I expanded the teams to allow for a few more open spots - first come first serve!The LeninLeague ( full) drafts Tuesday at 5pm CSTThe EngelsLeague (full) drafts Wednesday at 5pm CSTThe RosaLeague (STILL OPEN) drafts Thursday at 5pm CSTLASTLY: if you played last year and don't want to play this year PLEASE lmk ...
Building a People's Art: Vietnam, Socialist Realism and Cultural Revolution
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!
On Democracy: Breht's Paper for Class
I got a good response to the short essay I posted yesterday, so here's another one from the same class. This one is about the political philosopher Robert Dahl's criteria for a real democracy. He is certainly no marxist, but def has some worthwhile and progressive ideas. I also think its important for us to think about a functioning post-revolution society beyond the vanguard party, democr...
On Libertarianism: Breht's Paper for Class
Hey everyone, I am just finishing up a class for my masters program called "Intro to Political Thought", and just finished a paper on Libertarianism/Classical Liberalism. Ive aced all my papers so far and assume I will on this one as well, but I very much make my own arguments and connections beyond what is asked for by the professor haha. Maybe some of you will enjoy it. The question was ...
The World on Fire
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 evolution. Outro Song: The Cure by Non-Prophets
