Rev Left Radio

Latest Episodes:

Revisiting the Assassination of Fred Hampton: New FOIA Docs, COINTELPRO, and the "Black Messiah" Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Breht welcomes Aaron J. Leonard back on the show, this time with his co-author Conor Gallagher, to discuss new FOIA documents they recently received regarding the FBI agent assigned to Fred Hampton, the informant who helped in the efforts to assassinate Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, what the left gets wrong in their understanding of COINTELPRO, and reactions to the new film on Fred Hampton "Judas and the Black Messiah". Check out Aaron and Conor's books:

A Threat of the First Magnitude: FBI Counterintelligence & Infiltration from the Communist Party to the Revolutionary Union

Heavy Radicals: The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists

Previous Rev Left episode on Fred Hampton here:

https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/fred-hampton

Outro Music: "Fight For You" by H.E.R.

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Understanding The Reactionary Mind: Right-Wing Conspiracy Thinking Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of Guerrilla History, the guys discuss the psychological, historical, and material underpinnings of right wing conspiracies (with a focus on QAnon) and then explore the reasons why conspiratorial thinking is - and always has been - an essential feature of reactionary politics.

Support Guerrilla History, and get access to episodes like this one, here: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory

The Ministry for the Future: Climate Change, Sci Fi, and our Near Future Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

We are joined by Kim Stanley Robinson, the renowned science fiction author, to discuss his NYT bestselling book "The Ministry for the Future". We discuss climate change, geoengineering, Frederic Jameson, anti-dystopian fiction, political terrorism, Capitalist Realism, democratic socialism, the boomer/millennial divide, and so much more!

Outro Music: "505" by Arctic Monkeys

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LEARN MORE ABOUT REV LEFT RADIO: www.revolutionaryleftradio.com

The Fundamentals of Marxism: Intro to Political Economy Feb 03, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of Red Menace, Alyson and Breht introduce the core concepts of Marxist political economy by an analysis of the history of political economy, core economic concepts within Marxism, and much more! Make sure to subscribe to Red Menace on your favorite podcast app, and leave us a positive review! Outline for this episode with timestamps Political Economy:

[5:00] Definition: Political economy as the study of economics as played out in reality. Economics in relation to society, production, culture, politics, etc.
[12:28] History: Adam Smith's development of economics in the wealth of nations, alongside Mill's principles of political economy.
[20:05] So what does Marxism have to do with political economy?
[33:31] Critique of capitalist economics today

The Details and Concepts 1) [35:30] the Means of Production and Productive Forces 2) [43:20] Class as a relation to Production 3) [47:00] Value, Use, and Exchange 4) [58:05] Surplus Value and Wages 5) [61:09] Money, Capital, and the M-C-M Cycle 6) [68:35] Commodity Fetishism Closing Questions Questions:

[74:43] Why does this matter? If Marxism is about revolution, what's the deal with all this abstract economic analysis?
[78:13] Marxian economics vs Marxism: what's the difference, is there an issue with the former?

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Support Red Menace and get access to bonus monthly content on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace

Learn more about the show here: www.RevolutionaryLeftRadio.com

Depression, Anxiety, and Turning Suffering into Compassion Jan 28, 2021

Show notes

In this episode Breht talks about his struggles with anxiety and depression, and offers words of compassion and comfort to those struggling with mental health issues.

Outro Music: "Emptiness pt. 2" by Mount Eerie

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LEARN MORE ABOUT REV LEFT RADIO: www.revolutionaryleftradio.com

Confronting Antisemitism and the Fascist Far Right Jan 20, 2021

Show notes

Our good friend Brendan returns to the show to discuss definitions of fascism, the history of antisemitism, Gramscian political tactics, the fascist riot on capitol hill, the class make up of fascism, and much more! Episode featuring Brendan and Jon 'The Lit Crit Guy' on Antonio Gramsci here:

https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/gramsci

Outro Music: "Hot Water Rising" by No Thanks

Support and check out their new album here:

https://no-thanks.bandcamp.com/album/submerger

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or make a one time donation: PayPal.me/revleft

LEARN MORE ABOUT REV LEFT RADIO: www.revolutionaryleftradio.com

Ben Fletcher: The Life and Times of a Black Wobbly Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Peter Cole is a labor historian, professor, and author of "Ben Fletcher: The Life and Times of a Black Wobbly" as well as "Dockworker Power: Race and Activism in Durban and the San Francisco Bay Area". He joins Breht for the third time to discuss the life of the greatest black revolutionary you've probably never heard of: Ben Fletcher. Check out our previous episodes with Peter

Dockworker Power: https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/dockworker-power-racial-justice-class-struggle-and-proletarian-internationalism

History of the IWW: https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/iww

Outro Music: "Drop the Bomb" by YOTA: Youth of the Apocalypse Feat. MF DOOM (rest in peace, Doom!)

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LEARN MORE ABOUT REV LEFT RADIO: www.revolutionaryleftradio.com

Red Hot Take: The Fascist Riot on Capitol Hill Jan 08, 2021

Show notes

Alyson and Breht discuss recent events.

Outro Music: "Sound of Violence" by Other Lives

www.revolutionaryleftradio.com

Defending Socialism: Human Nature and the Nightmare of History Jan 04, 2021

Show notes

Twitch streamer CommieCon interviews Breht on a wide range of topics, including common arguments against socialism and how to refute them, Marx's conception of Species-Being and its relationship to alienation and human nature, Marxism v. Anarchism and what both have to offer, the evolution of human civilization through history, how violence is and is not conceived by liberals, and Nature's increasingly stern demand that we evolve or perish. Check out and support CommieCon on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/commiecon

Follow CommieCon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecommiecon Outro Music: "Bury Me With It" by Modest Mouse

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LEARN MORE ABOUT REV LEFT RADIO: www.revolutionaryleftradio.com

Sufism: Islamic Mysticism and the Annihilation of Self in God Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

Adnan Husain is both a Medieval European and Middle Eastern historian. His work has focused on religious phenomena and social imagination in Medieval Catholicism and Islam, particularly on Franciscan spiritual and Sufi mystical traditions. He is also a co-host of Guerrilla History and the host of The Majlis podcast.

Also check out "Muslim Societies, Global Perspectives" Outro Music: "Mustt Mustt" by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

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LEARN MORE ABOUT REV LEFT RADIO: www.revolutionaryleftradio.com