Jacobin Radio

Joseph Daher, author of Hezbollah: The Political Economy of the Party of God, discusses the complexities of Hezbollah's role within Lebanese society and their reliance on Iran. The podcast also delves into electronic monitoring as an aspect of American punishment and its impact on the incarcerated population.

Learn about the bold leaders at a decisive moment in history, John L. Lewis and Sidney Hillman, in this episode. Discover the institutional formation of the CIO and key personalities. Hear about the CIO's organizers from the United Mine Workers of America and the significance of organized labor demands for economic security and abundance.

Political scientist Jacqueline Behrend examines Argentina's new president, Javier Milei, discussing the consequences of radical deregulation and currency devaluation. Benjamin Fong explores Americans' love-hate relationship with drugs, discussing drug consumption rates and the history of anti-drug crusades.

Sociologist and former fashion model Ashley Mears discusses her book 'Very Important People' which explores the labor conditions for models and the orchestrated displays of excess at VIP clubs. The podcast delves into the roles of promoters and women in the club culture, the gender hierarchy and exploitation in VIP clubs, the tragic consequences of idolizing the wealthy, and the transformation of Manhattan's meatpacking district into a playground for the ultra wealthy.

Discussion on the aggressive promotion of a movie combating child sex trafficking, creating a British version of 'The West Wing', completing creative projects, life in East Berlin, struggles of blue-collar workers in Helsinki, and criticizing Starbucks while analyzing a movie's themes.

On episode one of Organize the Unorganized: The Rise of the CIO, we explore the conditions that led to the founding of the Congress of Industrial Organizations. We first dive into the history of the organization from which the CIO broke off, the American Federation of Labor. Then, we discuss three key developments that raised workers’ expectations in the lead-up to the CIO’s inauguration: the broken promises of welfare capitalism, the National Industrial Recovery Act, and the mass strikes of 1934. Hear the next episode here: https://shows.acast.com/jacobin-radio/episodes/organize-the-unorganized-02-powerful-personalities Find all the episodes on the web, or by searching for "Organize the Unorganized" on your podcast app. Organize the Unorganized: The Rise of the CIO is a limited-run history podcast telling the story of the CIO through the voices of labor historians. Hosted by Benjamin Y. Fong and produced by the Center for Work & Democracy at Arizona State University with Jacobin. Find the full show notes for this episode at https://soundcloud.com/organizetheunorganized/under-the-blue-eagle.

Suzi talks to Boris Kagarlitsky, Russian left intellectual writer-activist, just two weeks after he won his release from over four months in pre-trial custody. Kagarlitsky was arrested in Moscow on July 25 by the FSB, the Russian secret police, and taken more than 800 miles north to the city of Syktyvkar in the Komi Republic, where the local FSB opened a criminal case against him. He was accused of justifying terrorism, ostensibly for comments that he posted months earlier on social media regarding the attack on the Crimean Bridge. Even pro-Kremlin commentators were surprised at how far-fetched the accusations were. The state has imposed increasingly draconian charges and sentences for even minor anti-war activities, arresting thousands.Kagarlitsky's arrest was part of a coordinated attack on the online journal and popular YouTube channel that Kagarlitsky edits, Рабкор.ру (Workers Correspondent). The Russian Socialist Movement saw Kagarlitsky’s arrest as an attack on the whole left movement in Russia, and a huge movement to free Boris emerged all over Russia and the world in response.Kagarlitsky’s trial opened on December 11 in Syktyvkar and lasted two days. The prosecution and the FSB demanded five and a half years in prison. Kagarlitsky’s lawyer argued that “the charges against Boris were absurd, Kagarlitsky never supported or justified terrorism. The purpose of all his speeches is an attempt to show the real problems that the Russian state faces.” In a total surprise, the Russian authorities conceded to public opinion and the demands of thousands of scientists, researchers, artists, politicians, trade union members, and political activists from around the world. Kagarlitsky was found guilty, fined 600 thousand rubles (about $6600), banned from editing any media outlet or webpage for two years, and set free. The next day Rabkor held a crowdfunding event and 700,000 rubles was raised within an hour.We are fortunate to have Boris Kagarlitsky with us to tell the story.Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

Ussama Makdisi, expert on Western colonialism and Zionism in the Arab Middle East, discusses the impact of political reforms, colonial rule, and the Balfour Declaration on religious coexistence. They explore the role of Western powers in shaping the Middle East through colonialism, imperialim, and sectarian divisions. They also discuss the violent history of the region and its connection to US imperialism and colonialism.

Labor journalist, Alex Press, discusses the state of the labor movement in 2023, including successful organizing campaigns, strikes, and the impact of milestones like the teacher strikes and Occupy Wall Street movement. The podcast also covers the legal and political controversies surrounding attempts to exclude Trump from the presidential ballot, exploring the ambiguities of the 14th Amendment disqualification clause and the Democrats' fear of democracy.

Akbar Shahid Ahmed, a senior diplomatic correspondent for the Huffington Post, discusses Biden's policy towards Israel and its parallels to Lyndon Johnson's support for Vietnam in 1968. The podcast explores the US-Israel relationship, key figures' roles in US actions in the Middle East, dissent among US officials, doubts about casualty figures, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.