Alyson Escalante

An episode done on Rev Left last year in which Alyson Escalante joins Breht to discuss Lenin's major work of political theory, State and Revolution.  ------- Our logo was made by BARB, a communist graphic design collective! You can find them on twitter or insta @Barbaradical. Please reach out to them if you are in need of any graphic design work for your leftist projects!  -------- Please Rate and Review Red Menace on iTunes. This dramatically helps increase our reach. Support the Show and get access to bonus content on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace  Follow us on Twitter @The_Red_Menace

Breht O'Shea and Alyson Escalante, known for their insightful work on revolutionary theory, dive deep into the intricate ties between capitalism and imperialism. They explain how capitalism has evolved into monopoly capitalism and the implications of Lenin's theories for modern society. The duo highlights the role of the state in perpetuating financial oligarchy and the urgent calls for radical change. Notably, they connect the struggle for resources with social unrest, encouraging international solidarity among the working class against systemic exploitation.

Alyson Escalante, co-host of Red Menace, joins Robbie to dive deep into Lenin's insights on imperialism and monopoly capitalism. They discuss the transformation of capitalism into its imperialist phase and challenge the myth of free competition. The conversation reveals how monopolies intertwine with political power, leading to systemic injustices. They also explore contemporary implications of Lenin's theories in a multipolar world and stress the vital need for revolutionary change to address global inequalities.

Our transgender comrades are under attack — not just by incendiary reactionaries on the right, but also by many of those on the more liberal or even left side of the political spectrum. The attacks come in many forms, from outright violence, to genocidal language, to the often arbitrary and reactionary demarcations around what constitutes “womanhood,” to the “just asking questions” industrial complex led by liberal institutions like the New York Times.  In this episode, we explore a robust rebuttal to anti-trans and transphobic narratives and actions — from an explicitly Marxist perspective. And we’ve brought on the perfect guest to lead us in this.  Alsyon Escalante is the co-host of Red Menace — a podcast that explains and analyzes revolutionary theory and then applies its lessons to our contemporary conditions. The conversation we’re going to have is inspired by a cross-over episode of Red Menace and Revolutionary Left Radio titled, “Our Transgender Comrades: Dialectical Materialism, Marxist Feminism, and Trans Liberation.”  The first half of our conversation with Alyson focuses on that episode and lays out a theoretical rebuttal of liberal, bourgeois, and radical feminist approaches to feminism and gender. We lay out a principled Marxist, materialist analysis of gender and ‘womanhood’ and how they differ from post-modern and idealist conceptions.  The second half of our conversation brings the discussion back down to eye-level, and explores the current political, social, and economic realities faced by trans people and why it’s more important than ever for us to stand in solidarity with our transgender comrades and to fight against the reactionary right and their liberal accomplices. Thank you to Against Me! for the intermission music and to Carolyn Raider for the cover art. Upstream theme music was composed by Robert Raymond. Resources: Red Menace and Revolutionary Left Radio Upstream: Revolutionary Leftism with Breht O'Shea (In Conversation) Upstream: Feminism for the 99 Percent Editor's note:  A member-organizer with the Freelance Solidarity Project (the digital media division of the National Writers Union) and one of the co-authors of the NYT contributors' letter wrote in with a small correction: "I wanted to flag that the initial labor support for the letter came from Freelance Solidarity Project members—the Writers Guild is great and members signed their own letter in support of trans people as part of a broader solidarity effort. The NYT staff are also represented by The NewsGuild of New York—the letter defending signing as protected activity was by NewsGuild of NY President Susan DeCarava." This episode of Upstream was made possible with support from listeners like you. Upstream is a labor of love — we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support If your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.    

In this engaging discussion, historian Adnan Hussain dives deep into the ongoing crisis in Gaza, highlighting the role of modern technology in amplifying Palestinian voices. Breht O'Shea and Alyson Escalante reflect on the shifting dynamics of U.S. imperialism, and the emergence of BRICS as a counterforce. They also explore the complexities of global media representations and their impact on political legitimacy. The conversation wraps up with a look at exciting future projects focused on revolutionary scholarship, making it a must-listen for those interested in global movements.

Breht O’Shea, host of Revolutionary Left Radio, and Alyson Escalante, co-host of Red Menace, dive into revolutionary strategy rooted in Lenin's pivotal questions. They debate the balance between spontaneous action and disciplined organization. The duo critiques economism, suggesting a broader political framework for leftist movements. They explore the historical context of reforms like the New Deal and underscore the necessity of a vanguard party. Their insights reveal why genuine change often stalls despite motivation, aiming to inspire a new understanding of systemic struggles.

Alyson Escalante, a Marxist theorist and organizer from the Pacific Northwest, joins the discussion to dissect Lenin's pivotal work, State and Revolution. They delve into Lenin’s views on the state as a tool of class oppression and the urgent need to dismantle the bourgeois system. The conversation highlights the historical context of 1917, critiques social democracy, and emphasizes the relevance of Lenin's ideas for contemporary socialism. They also touch on the interplay of state power and revolution, advocating for new strategies to face today’s challenges, including ecological collapse.

Breht O'Shea and Alyson Escalante discuss revolutionary theory, the role of a Vanguard Party, Lenin's critique of economism, contradictions of capitalism, and building a party through political education. They explore the importance of organized, strategic movements in leftist activism and the need for conscious, disciplined action in societal transformation.

Alyson Escalante, J. Moufawad Paul, and Devin Zane Shaw discuss pacification and capture in response to the rebellions of 2020, unequal exchange, the climate crisis, settler colonialism, and the nuances of racial regimes in the US and Canada. They also touch on liberal pacification, declining ranks in movement work, the dangers of state support for settler vigilantism, and the re-emergence of proletarian patriotism. The podcast explores the impact of the uprisings on American politics, responsibilities within the global capitalist system, and the preservation of radical movement texts.

Shawn and Aaron from Srsly Wrong join Breht and Alyson Escalante for a comradely debate and dialogue concerning Scientific Socialism.  Check out Srsly Wrong here: @SrslyWrong https://srslywrong.com https://www.patreon.com/srslywrong More From Alyson here: @Alysonesque https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB2Cbir6ac8 https://failingthatinvent.home.blog   Outro Music: Private Lawns by Angus and Julia Stone ----------- Our logo was made by BARB, a communist graphic design collective! You can find them on twitter or insta @Barbaradical.  Intro music by Captain Planet. Find and support his music here:  https://djcaptainplanet.bandcamp.com --------------- Rev Left Spin-Off Shows: Red Menace (hosted by Breht and Alyson Escalante): Twitter: @Red_Menace_Pod Audio: http://redmenace.libsyn.com  Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKdxX5eqQyk&t=144s Black Banner Magic (Season 2) Twitter: @blackbannerpod http://blackbannermagic.libsyn.com Hammer and Camera (The communist Siskel and Ebert):  Twitter: @HammerCamera http://hammercamera.libsyn.com Other Members of the Rev Left Radio Federation include: Coffee With Comrades: https://www.patreon.com/coffeewithcomrades Left Page: https://www.patreon.com/leftpage Little Red School House: http://littleredschoolhouse.libsyn.com ---- Please Rate and Review Revolutionary Left Radio on iTunes. This dramatically helps increase our reach. You can support the show financially by: Becoming a Patreon supporter (and receive access to bonus content including the Rev Left book club) here: https://www.patreon.com/RevLeftRadio - OR - making a one-time donation to the Rev Left Radio team here: paypal.me/revleft Get Rev Left Radio Merch (and genuinely support the show by doing so) here: https://www.teezily.com/stores/revleftradio --------------- This podcast is officially affiliated with The Nebraska Left Coalition, the Nebraska IWW, Socialist Rifle Association (SRA), Feed The People - Omaha, and the Marxist Center. Join the SRA here: https://www.socialistra.org/