RevolutionZ

Latest Episodes:

Ep 322 A War On Two, Three, Many Fronts Feb 02, 2025

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Ep 322 of RevolutionZ addresses our necessary battle against harmful policies and the structural changes that are meant to empower them under the Trump administration. How do we recognize the role of societal structures in policy implementation to effectively resist both? How do we develop a proactive stance to fight against fascistic behavior that aims to install dictatorial rule. How do we address the aggressive policy agenda that threatens immigrants and civil rights? How do we thwart the structural shifts in governance that Trump seeks? How do we develop active resistance and non-compliance rather than succumbing to fear and intimidation to do Trump's work for him? And finally, as a kind of addendum, how do we understand the recent emergence of Chinese AI and its implications?

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Ep 321 Class and/or Identity Jan 26, 2025

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Ep 321 of RevolutionZ considers the I believe false choice of class or identity. We want to understand the world to change it. Why must we choose one focus above some other focus to best pursue effective change? How do class, race, gender, and power priorities and concepts intersect? What if marxism, anarchism, feminism, and nationalism are each correct and yet also each wrong? Is there a way to think about social change able to combine the virtues of paying priority attention to gender, sexuality, race, culture, power, and class while jettisoning the debits that can accompany exclusive emphasis on feminism, anti-racism, marxism, or anarchism, each taken alone? If yes, do we need that approach to effectively combat fascism and attain a vastly better world? This episode addresses such questions.

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Ep 320 Trump, MAGA, and Fundamental Change Jan 19, 2025

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Episode 320 of RevolutionZ addresses the next few months of Trumpian challenge. What can we do? Howmight we do it? Who is we? How does it all work? This episode addresses reaching way beyond current support with what we call non reformist reform struggles. How do we assess our own choices? What constitutes success? What brings more success?
Episode 320 takes up these and related questions to provoke, inspire, and aid coming activism even against feelings of fear and weakness that many now suffer. Our target is the most corrupt, callous, and crazy administration, to quote the lead deranged asshole, that anyone has ever seen. Could there be a target with more weaknesses? Our goal is to not only stop Trump and severely weaken MAGA but to do so in a manner that causes all those involved to struggle on after that victory to still more fundamental changes.

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Ep 319 Meet Mr.Dylan Jan 12, 2025

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Episode 319 of RevolutionZ, inspired by the release of "A Complete Unknown," seeks to assist in one wish for the film -- to introduce new audience to Dylan's work. It isn't mandatory to study history in order to enjoy today's tunes, but to do so with Dylan opens us to much edification and enrichment. I let the movie select many of the songs to present, but not all. From hundreds Dylan has done, I of course had to settle for less than the whole. So here is a sliver of Dylan, sadly without his vocals and his music, yet nonetheless I hope my clumsy recitation with some brief commentary will prove worth your time and provoke further attention.
Consider the feminist undertones in "All I Really Want to Do" and then the sharp critique of misogyny in "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" Consider "Mr. Tambourine Man" and its multiple possible meanings. Consider "Like a Rolling Stone," a song that. electrified the music scene and redefined industry standards with its challenging imagery, length, and focus. Consider Dylan's exploration of relationships and power dynamics, and assess if his messages continue to resonate today. Take special note of "Farewell Angelina," with its exit message that we on the left should have given more attention to.
And then there is Dylan's social commentary represented here with "Blowing in the Wind," "Only A Pawn in Their Game," "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)." "The Times They Are A Changin'," and "Dignity." For those familiar with all this, perhaps hearing it spoken with lyrics forefront and with some commentary, may prove inspiring. For those not familiar with Dylan, I offer this introduction to suggest that he is worth some of your attention.
And then, back to stopping Trump and winning a better world. Busy being born and not busy dying.

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Ep 318 Jeremy Brecher Offers Strategy for Fighting Maga Tyranny Jan 05, 2025

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Episode 318 of RevolutionZ has Jeremy Brecher as guest to discuss his recent exemplary pamphlet which explores strategies for winning against MAGA. The episode discusses Trumpian aims and both electoral and non-electoral forms of our own activism, emphasizing the power of strikes, public pressure, and unified resistance. Brecher describes successful initiatives like North Carolina's Forward Together and the Poor People's Campaign to show how grassroots movements can bring about significant social transformation. He provides insights into local actions inspired by the Green New Deal, and emphasies the importance of community-driven efforts to foster sustainable justice. We also consider Trump's political character-- is he moron or genius of both--and its implications, as well as our need for extensive solidarity and mutual support.

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Ep 317 Student Activism Today and University Resistance Dec 29, 2024

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Episode 317 of RevolutionZ has as its guest Richard Solomon a grad student activist and organizer. We discuss the mindset, circumstances, and challenges faced by campus activism particularly about Palestine but more broadly as well including differences now as compared to years earlier. We consider the exemplary activist-generated "MIT Science for Genocide" report, the extensive carefully planned administrative repression against student dissent, insights on building coalitions for activism, insights on dealing dealing with widespread apathy, the importance of multi issue organizing, and the importance, of outreach and building face to face friendship and trust.

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Ep 316 A Personal Take On A Pivotal Situation Dec 22, 2024

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Episode 316 of RevoluitonZ begins with a short letter to a friend and the friend's response. The episode considers views about becoming active, online activity, today's situation's pluses and minuses and our options, and Trump's voters. Should I and you be despondent, step aside, and wait. Slow and steady patience will win the race. Or should I and you be militant, dive right in, and battle full bore? The early days will set the stage for later days. And what about Trump voters? A case for each side exists. I believe one is right and one is wrong. But which is which? My friend and I disagree. He has lots of support. I have you, I hope.

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Ep 314 Campus Activism, Me and You, Then and Now Dec 22, 2024

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Episode 314 of RevolutionZ convey's an interview done before a large audience at MIT addressing the 1960s and now. What follows is a somewhat edited version of what an AI offered as a summary.
From an unsuspecting student to a committed activist here are stories of how personal experiences and institutional dynamics paved the way for a lifetime of advocacy. From a fraternity with secrets as unsettling as bugging rooms and tapping phone calls to manipulate incoming Freshmen, to harboring fugitives and planning events and riots, plus anecdotes of intense meetings and strategic career offers, how do we deal with the moral and strategic dilemmas we face. Lessons learned from the strategic challenges faced by past and present leftist movements lead to discussing the left's "stickiness problem" and the need for the left to become more inclusive of working-class perspectives and leadership. Connecting the struggles of the 1960s with today's fight against fascism, this episode offers rich insights into the evolution of political engagement and the enduring need for viable, inclusive alternatives in our political landscape.

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Ep 315 Navigating Syria's New Era and Lessons for America Dec 15, 2024

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Episode 315 of RevolutionZ presents a detailed, wide-ranging assessment of recent changes and coming prospects in Syria as well as beyond, including Russia, Turkey, the United States, and Israel. Joseph Dahar critically challenges the anti-imperialist perspective that too often oversimplifies regional dynamics. Can a coalition of Syrians break free from Assad, fundamentalism, and external domination to create a democratic society? Finally, I draw some unexpected lessons for the United States.

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Ep 313 Apocalypse or a Call to Resist and Build? Dec 01, 2024

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Episode 313 of RevolutionZ continues to focus on resisting Trump and going beyond him to build better. It briefly shares feelings and fears that dog me and likely you too. It lays out three paths toward removing Trump. It offers a hypothesis about the potential impact of the first months of Trump's second administration. And it moves from the facts and the hypothesis it offers to a proposal about what we might do now. Along the way it also offers a way of thinking about Trump's voters that avoids writing them off, and a way of collectively resisting and beating Trump along with everyone who wants to resist that avoids becoming subservient to the Democratic Party.

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