Jacobin Radio Jacobin Radio: Block Everything w/ Sebastian Budgen
9 snips
Sep 16, 2025 
Join Sebastian Budgen, an expert on French politics and editor at Verso Books, as he dives into the recent upheaval in France following the fall of Prime Minister Bayrou's government. He discusses the vibrant 'Block Everything' movement uniting unions and activists against Macron's austerity measures. Meanwhile, Joe Allen, a former Teamster, sheds light on the complexities within the Teamsters Union and the implications of a near-strike at UPS, exploring how political ties influence modern labor dynamics in the U.S.
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EU Rules Are Flexible Yet Politicized
- EU fiscal rules constrain French austerity but leave room for national interpretation and exceptions.
- Macron uses those rules rhetorically to justify harsh cuts even though workarounds exist.
Yellow Vests Set A New Mobilization Template
- The Yellow Vest precedent shows France can produce broad, plebeian movements beyond traditional unions.
- Block Everything tried to replicate that cross-class energy but differed in timing and composition.
From Far-Right Origins To Left-Led Mobilization
- Block Everything began on hard-right forums but was quickly adopted and reshaped by the radical left and unions.
- The September 10 actions forced political consequences despite not being a weekend mass general strike.
