The Bruenigs

Guest Mark Paul on his new book Jun 27, 2023

Guest Mark Paul on his new book by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig

BONUS: Carl Beijer on Sean McElwee Dec 24, 2022

I know this is not of interest to everybody, which is why I've made it a separate bonus episode you can skip. But if you are extremely online like many of us are, you may have seen the spate of articles about Sean McElwee, his departure from Data for Progress, and allegations about participating in illegal straw donor conspiracies. Carl Beijer is one of the great Sean chroniclers and so I've brought him on to fill in all the details. His website --> https://carlbeijer.com/

Audio Grab Bag; Alito's Draft Opinion on Roe/Casey Jun 24, 2022

gang back

CLIP from Ban Sports with Bryant Gumbel Feb 28, 2022

For the whole episode, titled "Top Ukraine Takes; Ban Sports with Bryant Gumbel; Solar Update" go to patreon.com/thebruenigs

Socialism Series Episode 8: Moses Hess Feb 28, 2022

For all the episodes go on over to patreon.com/thebruenigs

Matt on The Nordic Model podcast Dec 25, 2021

Matt appeared on The Nordic Model podcast earlier this week. I am crossposting the audio here for your enjoyment. You can follow them on: * Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2bWggCJikcvBQdtduvF7sa * YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq-6BFMXDhBV4zlWWcAqguw * Twitter https://twitter.com/TheNordicModel This is not our episode for the week. We will have a special xmas episode out soon.

The Trip Dec 11, 2021

Liz went on a two-pronged reporting trip, first to DC to cover a congressional hearing, and then to the Mississippi State Penitentiary to cover the execution of David Cox. Matt tagged along and collected bits of audio for this somewhat experimental episode.

The Devastating Power of Sympathy Strikes; Paid Leave Ranting and Raving Sep 23, 2021

Matt pods solo on this one, talking about his hit piece about what happened when McDonalds went to Denmark and tried to run without a union. Talk includes details not in the piece and a telling of a similar story of what happened when Toys R Us went to Sweden in 1995 and tried the exact same shit. At the end of the podcast, Matt uses Lee Harris's article about paid leave in The Prospect to rant and rave about the insanity of what is going on with House Dems when it comes to paid leave.

Matt Solo Ep on the Welfare State & MMT Sep 18, 2021

People seem to like these. So here we go again. Matt discusses the mistake everyone makes about what the welfare state is for. Then he talks about the recent MMT punditry. In the middle is Jarrod's Corner.

Matt's 84-Year-Old Grandpa Talks About His Teamster Union Days and Politics Generally Sep 01, 2021

Sabotage, picket lines, and mass quits.

Matt Dives into TikTok; Social Media Pogram; Octopussy Jul 01, 2021

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Biden's American Family Plan; Skin Color; Anna Delvey on HBO Max May 06, 2021

Please subscribe to get all of our episodes at: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs

Matt's Dad Comes on to Discuss Qanon and Warehouse Laboring Conditions Apr 08, 2021

Matt's dad joins the podcast via the telephone to discuss HBO's six-hour documentary on Q and in the process discusses his 45 years of working in a distribution warehouse.

Matt Debates Oren Cass About Child Benefits Mar 09, 2021

Matt went onto the Solidarity Policy Center's podcast to debate Oren Cass on the question of providing cash child benefits to all kids (including the very poor!). I'm cross-posting the whole thing here in case you are a big enough sicko to do 103 minutes of this. Please subscribe to patreon.com/thebruenigs to get all our episodes.

Bitches Whom Brunch; Checks Update; Jessica Krug Feb 23, 2021

The gang is back with an old-style potpourri episode. If you want every episode, and as soon as it is released, please subscribe --> https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs

Hilaria and Dr. Phil Jan 10, 2021

The gang is back with a new year's special.

Best Takes of the Trump Era, Featuring Matt Christman, aka @cushbomb Nov 26, 2020

The gang is back with special guest Matt Christman to reminisce over the top 5 takes of the Trump era, including Eric Garland, Louise Mensch, Ian Millhiser, and the intelligence agency plot to set off fireworks in New York City. Subscribe for all the episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs

Matt Debates Job Guarantee with Mark Paul Nov 02, 2020

This is the audio from a debate hosted by Philly DSA about the JG. Matt argues against the JG. Mark Paul argues for. There is a video of the recorded zoom call here, though I thought some might prefer to have it in audio podcast form as well. Apologies for audio quality which obviously is not as good as usual due to the format. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiI8Ai4RsL4&feature=emb_title

GORDON KEITH Oct 29, 2020

The gang sit down with sportsradio 1310 the ticket's own gordon keith for a sprawling conversation about whatever.

Trump Updates; Trial Run of Brue Crime: The Chris Watts Story Oct 23, 2020

The gang is back. The first half of the episode is an update on Trump happenings: the debates; the covid; etc. In a very special second half, we debut content from a possible new podcast called Brue Crime. Brue Crime would be The Bruenigs discussing true crime, which Liz and Matt both love but for very different reasons. The true crime discussed in this episode is the Chris Watts story, which was recently told in an incredible documentary titled ‘American Murder: The Family Next Door' currently on Netflix.

The Job Guarantee ft. Aussies David Sligar, Hugh Sturgess, and Michael Hiscox (fixed) Sep 16, 2020

Matt brings on three smart guests to talk about the Job Guarantee proposal and political developments, both in Australia and more generally. The conversation covers things like Bill Mitchell (top JG advocate in Australia), Noel Pearson (Mitchell's newest ally, one of the most prominent anti-welfare advocates in the country), Work for the Dole, Jobseeker Payment, the Phillips Curve/NAIRU/Wage-Price Inflation, what jobs JG can actually do, Giuliani's TANF workfare program and its impact on unions, among other things. A must listen!

Farewell DC Sep 10, 2020

The gang talks about their life in DC on their last evening in the city before they move.

Spooky Halloween Bonus Cast (Solo Liz) Aug 26, 2020

By request, we have opened this one up. Liz considers what vampires are, why they're aristocrats, why they're not bourgeois, why they're sometimes proletarian, and offers recommendations for good vampire movies.

Cobra Tate and the Funniest Online Grifting Gang Aug 10, 2020

As I was preparing to go to bed last night, Liz revealed to me that she had no idea who Cobra Tate was. I had to pull out the microphones to explain. Enjoy. To get all of our episodes and to get them when they are released, subscribe at PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs SUPERCAST - https://thebruenigs.supercast.tech/

Fuck Ron Haskins. Fuck Welfare Reform. Fuck the Success Sequence. Jul 12, 2020

The gang is back with an episode teeing off on the life work of the ghoulish Ron Haskins who retired this week from the Brookings Institution. Haskins spent his whole career in politics making life hard on the poor while pretending he cared. We go over what this all means for our politics and discourse and cultural notions of poverty.

Our 6th Wedding Anniversary; Riffing on Internet Insanities Jul 02, 2020

The gang is back. The ep starts with some talk of our wedding anniversary and then we move on to riffing on various internet insanities, including an incredible update in the WaPo blackface saga.

The Bubonic Plague Jun 20, 2020

Liz here with a solo episode finally on the Bubonic Plague and what it meant for the world. SUBSCRIBE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs SUBSCRIBE ON SUPERCAST: https://thebruenigs.supercast.tech/

Matt and Liz on It's Just Banter May 30, 2020

Matt and Liz on It's Just Banter by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig

Bernie Sanders Drops Out Apr 26, 2020

To listen to our premium episodes and get our regular episodes as soon as they are released, subscribe! SUPERCAST: https://thebruenigs.supercast.tech/ PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs

Guest Marshall Steinbaum On Recent Developments in Tax Credit Discourse Apr 07, 2020

SUBSCRIBE TO GET ALL EPISODES SUPERCAST: https://thebruenigs.supercast.tech/ PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs Matt is here with a special midweek bonus episode, talking to returning guest Marshall Steinbaum about the advanced tax rebate in the Coronavirus emergency legislation and the interesting ways in which that rebate was handled in the discourse. Ultimately we learn the EITC is bad, once again.

The Bailout & Listener Questions Mar 30, 2020

SUBSCRIBE ON SUPERCAST: https://thebruenigs.supercast.tech/ SUBSCRIBE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs The gang is back. The first 30 minutes are spent discussing the bailout, mostly just explaining what it is and taking on some common questions and misconceptions. The rest of the episode is answering listener queries of all sorts.

Coronavirus and Social Transformation Mar 21, 2020

Easily subscribe to our premium feed for $5/mo on Supercast: https://thebruenigs.supercast.tech/ The gang is back with a sprawling episode about the Coronavirus crisis and the social transformation it has currently caused and will possibly cause well into the future. Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs

Lyin' Liz; Joe Biden Wants to Cut Social Security Feb 12, 2020

The full gang is back (liz and matt) with some fresh content. The first half is Matt melting down over fact checking about Joe Biden's Social Security record. The second half is a discussion of the Warren saga, mostly led by Liz (as Matt discussed his take earlier).

The New Star War Jan 14, 2020

The gang talks about the new star war movie. Matt has not seen it.

Emotional Labor; Elections; 30 Under 30; Finland Dec 19, 2019

The gang is back to celebrate Liz's 30 For 30 success and discussion hot topics like emotional labor, the Democratic primary, and Finnish labor developments.

Special Guest: Matt Stoller Nov 14, 2019

Matt Stoller, author of the book Goliath, hater of monopolies, sits in for the entire hour to talk about his new book with Matt Bruenig. The first 20 minutes are so is a summary of the book provided by Stoller, the rest is a back and forth about whether this anti-monopoly stuff is really that important.

CarePoints Nov 04, 2019

The gang discuss Glenn Kessler's recent M4A shenanigans, the American Affairs wacky family benefit scheme, and the WSJ alarmed about gender imbalance among college educated.

Fan Mail! Nov 01, 2019

Tomi Lahren's audience doesn't like Chrisitan writers

Have You Forgotten? Oct 01, 2019

The gang talks about 9/11 and whether they and everyone else has forgotten, Biden's continued sundowning at the recent Democratic debate, and give a long-awaited update on Undercover Billionaire.

Green TVA, Joe Walsh, Swarthy Child, 5 Myths About Bernie Sep 17, 2019

The gang is back with an incredible amount of content.

Evangelicals and Trump; Undercover Billionaire Aug 28, 2019

The gang is back after a one-week parental leave (go with it). They talk about Liz's breakout piece In God's Country, which is about evangelical feelings on Trump after seeing him in office for a few years. They also talk about the new show Undercover Billionaire in which a billionaire proves that he can create a million-dollar business in the depressed town of Erie, PA, thereby owning the lazy locals. They finish off the episode with 5 Myths About Christianity, 5 myths being their summer content series.

A child is born Aug 04, 2019

The gang is back, this time with a discussion of the birth of their second child, which thankfully coincided with copious amount of CNN viewing in the hospital, keeping the gang up to date on the latest and greatest in American politics, which is also discussed, including Bidencare and Symone Sanders's CNN meltdown.

The War for the Soul of the Democratic Party with guest Ryan Grim Jul 16, 2019

The gang is back. They talk about: 1. The Last Czars on Netflix 2. The Democratic Establishment's new war against the AOC quartet and Saikat Chakrabarti in particular 3. The last half of the episode is an interview with Ryan Grim about his new book "We've Got People" available here: https://strongarmpress.com/catalog/weve-got-people/

The individual versus the collective under socialism Jun 24, 2019

Matt is here with a solo episode where he tackles a philosophical tension that runs through much socialist thinking and posting: how can socialism be both individually liberating while also relying on collective control and ownership? This winding (don't call it rambling) episode covers many topics including Distributism, Jeffersonians, Rawls's property-owning democracy, and various socialist tendencies. And most importantly, it offers a real solution to the conundrum.

Does the EITC Suck or Is It Good? (ft. Marshall Steinbaum and Kevin Werner) Jun 11, 2019

Does the Earned Income Tax Credit suck. Or is it actually good? And if it does suck, precisely why does it suck? These are the questions the expert panel get into.

Special Guest Donté Stallworth Jun 06, 2019

Special Guest Donté Stallworth by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig

The Bruenigs Interview the Gravel Teens May 20, 2019

The Bruenigs Interview the Gravel Teens by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig

The gang take your questions May 12, 2019

So many questions, including why Matt was kicked off his college debate team market socialism v. planning, dealing with isolation, relationship conflict, and so on and so on.

Free Lil Nas X Apr 15, 2019

The gang talk about Lil Nas X's unjust ejection from the country charts, the hilarious Mueller report, and Pete's gayness. Articles referenced https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/pete-buttigieg-gay-diversity-white-male-candidate.html https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-810844/

College Cheating, Beto Flailing, and New Zealand Mar 29, 2019

The gang is back.

Valentine's Relationship Advice (Q&A) Mar 10, 2019

The wacky twosome answer your relationship-related questions in this valentine's special. They also talk hot topics, including Ilhan Omar, and close with a flourish about the late great Lyndon LaRouche (may he RIP).

Tricked by Measurement: The Story of the EITC and Baby Bonds Feb 27, 2019

Matt is here with a solo ep (dual ep releasing soon) about one of his great wonk irritations: policies that seem to have a big impact only because they take advantage of quirks in the way we measure certain things like poverty and wealth inequality. These policies achieve great "success" defined as getting a certain statistic to move a lot but actually do not meaningfully address the bigger evil -- the reduction of material deprivation in the case of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the wealth difference between the black and white community in the case of baby bonds.

Working Women and the Conundrums of Family Benefits Feb 18, 2019

The dynamic duo discuss the interesting philosophical and policy questions that flow from the fact that some people (disproportionately women) prefer to be stay-at-home parents. Is this a preference that should be respected and with benefit systems built around it or is it a preference that should be discarded as patriarchal? If you do build a benefit system around it, how should you do so? These become important questions when talking about paid leave and child care policy and were both questions Matt had to confront when writing his Family Fun Pack paper.

Review of Liz Warren's Book: The Two-Income Trap Feb 07, 2019

The gang (mostly Matt, apologies in advance) talk about Elizabeth Warren's book The Two-Income Trap. As with most things, the book errs in not recognizing the superiority of the welfare state in solving the problems identified.

Lib Paranoia Ramping Up; Sawhill's A Modest Proposal Jan 28, 2019

The crew commemorate the anniversary of Josh TPM's porn tweet, talk about liberal paranoia ramping up around the election, and Sawhill's modest proposal to reduce poverty by giving poor woman IUDs, which the NYT gave new life this month.

The World According to Matt Jan 08, 2019

In this rare solo episode, Matt outlines his whole vision of what's the chief problem with capitalism and how best to tackle it. He starts with a discussion of capital's share and wealth ownership and then turns towards his neo-Hilferdingist vision of exploiting finance capital to socialize the means of production. It's truly wonderful listening.

Christmas Special ft. Lapland Santa (Antti Jauhiainen & Joona-Hermanni Mäkinen) Dec 25, 2018

Liz and Matt are joined by Antti and Joona of Parecon Finland.

The GOAT Ralph Nader Dec 20, 2018

Liz and Matt have a wide-ranging discussion with citizen advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader. We ask him about his views on recent trends in the Democratic party and play a game: Nader 2000 Platform Item or Fresh New Democratic Idea. Nader has a new humor book out called How The Rats Reformed Congress here: https://ratsreformcongress.org/.

Fashing Out with Guest Tom Frank Dec 15, 2018

The crew sits down with Tom Frank (Listen Liberal, What's the Matter with Kansas?) and have a sprawling conversation primarily about fascism, the subject of Frank's next book. Apologies for the slight audio issues on this one. They are fixed going forward. Subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs

Matt is Cancelled + Will Butler of Arcade Fire Dec 06, 2018

The gang discuss Matt's cancellation over his blog post about student debt forgiveness in the first half of the episode. Will Butler of Arcade Fire comes on in the second half of the program to discuss the suburban gothic, Betomania including The Beto Tweet, and his experiences with Canada Medicare system and welfare state.

The Hedonic Blitzkrieg Nov 30, 2018

In their thanksgiving special, Liz and Matt eschew hot topics in favor of a full episode on the pitfalls of consumer markets. The jumping off point for the discussion is the recent writing about the Decline of Sex, but your wacky hosts think these articles miss the fact that the Decline of Sex is not a sui generis phenomenon, but is instead an outgrowth of consumer capitalist encroachment that we see in many areas of life. Theme song was created by Tom Weyman (@tomweyman on Twitter).

Creepy AOC Tweet; White Women Be Like; Hygge Thanksgiving Nov 22, 2018

The wacky crew is at it again. Come for the theme song. Stay for the top notch discussion of politics and culture.

Generation Wealth, Nationalization Nov 16, 2018

Liz and Matt discuss hot topics, Lauren Greenfield's Generation Wealth, and the underrated policy instrument of self-regulation via nationalization threats. Along with the bonus episode, The Bruenigs produced a record 1 hour and 20 min of content this week. This extra productivity does not get recorded in the national accounts however. Generation Wealth Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyfC1AVhfb8 Kids + Money on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/22811/55556079

Hello, It's Halloween Nov 08, 2018

Liz and Matt discuss Halloween happenings, the DC elections (poorly), the strange socialist posturing in climate policy, a philosophical tension in competition, among other things. The gas company (aka the Russians) interrupt the podcast midway through by jackhammering the street outside our dwelling. But Matt powers through to finish the episode.

Dems Love Amazon; Bernie v. Warren; Catholic Sex Abuse Nov 02, 2018

Liz and Matt discuss a recent poll showing Democrats have more confidence in Amazon than any major US institution, the opening shots in the pundit effort to distinguish Bernie from Warren, geoengineering, some the Catholic sex scandal, and the CEA's socialism report. Bernie v. Warren pieces 1. Dayen: https://newrepublic.com/article/151871/essential-difference-bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren 2. Sunkara: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/23/bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-democratic-party-2020-differences 3. Pollitt: https://www.thenation.com/article/elizabeth-warren-meets-the-lefts-circular-firing-squad/

Warren DNA Debacle and Child Allowance > * Oct 25, 2018

We discuss the hot topic of the Warren DNA debacle, our 5 year old run in with Gavin McInnes, the Kamala Harris LIFT credit, the superiority of the child allowance over other welfare state programs, Matt's political platform he calls the Family Fun Pack, and then finally Christmas decorations and our struggling plants.

Political Correctness and Alcoholic Free Will Oct 19, 2018

Liz and Matt go through the usual hot topics, discuss an inane survey about "political correctness," and talk about how Liz got in trouble with the internet for saying alcohol consumption contributes to a lot of social problems.

Listen to Our Newest Episode on Patreon (For Real) Oct 13, 2018

After joking about it for a dozen or more episodes, Liz and Matt now does have a Patreon for the podcast. Episodes will now release on Patreon first and then after a delay to the public. Please support us on Patreon to get the episodes when they are released, to get bonus tidbits, and to support our work. https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs

Kavanaugh, Amazon's $15 Min Wage, Accountable Capitalism Oct 05, 2018

Liz and Matt discuss the silly discourse around the Kavanaugh confirmation process (Liz wrote a WaPo piece on it), what Amazon's $15 min wage teaches us (Matt's wrote a WaPo piece on it), and some disappointments in a new paper on "accountable capitalism."

The Amber Wyatt Story and Our High School Sep 21, 2018

Liz discusses her blockbuster story about a rape at our high school: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/opinions/arlington-texas/?utm_term=.af69b738f075 We also talk about the high school generally, including some of the antics Matt got up to, including both times he was disqualified from running for student body president for "offensive campaigning materials" (really a pretense to keep him out of power).

Finland, Batman, and Sportsradio 1310 the Ticket Sep 14, 2018

Matt discusses his trip to Finland. Liz gives her hot sports opinions on Batman and his impending marriage. And both discuss Sportradio 1310 the Ticket, which has influenced them greatly.

Market Socialism and Taylor Swift Confrontation Aug 30, 2018

Matt and Liz discuss the basics of market socialism and make the pitch that decommodifiers and dealienaters have a weak case. They discuss the Catholic Church's newest rape problems and end with a story about a time Matt almost got into a fight at a Taylor Swift concert.

Medicare for All Fact-checking Debacle and Autism Aug 10, 2018

Matt and Liz tell the story of the Mercatus M4A study and all of the ridiculous fact-checking that has followed it. And, after covering the mind of Liz last episode, they turn to the mind of Matt, which is to say autism.

Socialism Semantics and the Bruenig Book Canon Aug 03, 2018

We discuss hot topics, including the newest Jacobin socialism piece lighting up the internet. Then, upon listener request, we turn towards some of the key books we have read.

SUMMER MADNESS: THE BUFFER STOCK PARADOX Jul 29, 2018

We discuss Russia exhaustion, the Job Guarantee, and just have freewheeling conversations.

Undercover Boss Jul 20, 2018

Liz and Matt talk about the greatest show in 21st century television: Undercover Boss.

Nordic Socialism Is Really Real Jul 15, 2018

We discuss great tweets of the week, Nordic state ownership being a real thing despite what nearly everyone in media says, and amusing miscellany at the end.

Dr. Phil and Social Mobility Jul 08, 2018

Liz and Matt discuss Dr. Phil, daytime TV generally, The Last Kingdom, and, as our main topic, the pitfalls of so-called "social mobility."

Civility and Janus Jun 22, 2018

Liz and Matt discuss how civility is bad again and the Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME, which threatens to kill public sector labor unions.

How Does Retirement Work? Jun 09, 2018

Sound issues fixed, zombies and property, and how does retirement really work?

Distrust The Process Jun 02, 2018

Elizabeth and Matt discuss the way in which public reason forces everyone to make up fake procedural arguments about why people should be fired or not.

Incel May 04, 2018

Incel by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig

Slacker and the Job Guarantee Apr 23, 2018

Slacker and the Job Guarantee by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig

Batman And Monopoly Apr 21, 2018

Matt discusses Batman en route to discussing monopoly, socialism, and 7-11.

Matt Tries to Understand Harry Potter Mar 31, 2018

Matt has never read or seen Harry Potter. Here, he tries to reconstruct what the story is about based on political journalism written using Harry Potter analogies.

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