Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

On this edition of Parallax Views, Siberian-based educator Jason Van Boom joins us for a discussion of the coronavirus pandemic in his part of the world and how Mongolia's response to the coronavirus pandemic may have been useful to Siberia. Additionally, Jason takes us through a brief history of pandemic and plagues past and present including the Black Death, the diseases created by the "Columbian exchange", and now COVID-19. We also discuss the question of globalization and Jason's nuanced view of it's relationship to the pandemic. He argues that the "globalism vs. nationalism" binary is not a useful one in dealing with these matters and that globalization has been happening in some form or another long before the 20th century. And finally, Jason discusses the ideas of Carl Schmitt, specifically the "State of Exception", and how they relate to the response to the current pandemic. Jason also argues that there is a progressive version of the "State of Exception" in the form of the work of academic Robert Yelle. All that and much more on this edition of Parallax Views. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON! FOR BONUS CONTENT AND ARCHIVED EPISODES!

On this edition of Parallax Views, we continue our international coverage of the coronavirus pandemic this time from a Brazilian perspective. Brian Mier of the Brasilwire joins us to discuss how the crisis has been effecting Brazil, specifically on the political front. But first, we dive into a bit of recent Brazilian history with a discussion of the ouster of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the rise of the Brazilian extreme right wing under current President Jair Bolsonaro and ideologues like Olavo de Carvalho. From there we delve into the neo-Malthusian response Bolsonaro has offered to the Brazilian public in regards to the coronavirus pandemic and how some are buying into it. Additionally, we talk about how Bolsonaro has become increasingly isolated politically due to the majority of the population being against his response thus far, including governors. All that and more on this edition of Parallax Views. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON! FOR BONUS CONTENT AND ARCHIVED EPISODES!

On this edition of Parallax Views, the Gaza strip has been under siege of Israel for over a decade and now face new struggles due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Al Jazeera photojournalist Walid Mahmoud joins us on this edition of the program to discuss the current situation facing the Palestinian people in Gaza. How are Gazans dealing with measures like social distancing despite being extremely crowded (thus making social distancing difficult) and what of the lack of medical supplies like ventilators? Also what is Gaza like now under the blockade and the threat of coronavirus combined? Walid also fills us in on why Gazans remain positive in spite of the adversity they face and why the everyday Gazan does not want violence, hatred, or racism but rather the recognition that "we all live under the same sky" and therefore peace must prevail. This interview is shorter (close to 40 min) but powerful. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON! FOR BONUS CONTENT AND ARCHIVED EPISODES!

VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFsEkQcKylE On this video edition of Parallax Views, Mike Swanson of the Wall Street Window joins us to discuss the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic and the future of the economy as wlell as related topics. This conversation is an almost two hour barn-burner, and Mike's takes may surprise you and are definitely food for thought. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON! FOR BONUS CONTENT AND ARCHIVED EPISODES!

On this edition of Parallax Views, military analyst John Robb, author of the Global Guerrillas Report and Brave New War: The Next Stage of Terrorism and the End of Globalization, joins us to discuss his maverick research into open source warfare as well as his more recent work on bottom-up networks and the coronavirus pandemic. We begin by discussing his work on asymmetric warfare during the heyday War on Terror and then discuss the rise of open source warfare domestically in the U.S. vis-a-vis Occupy Wall Street, Anonymous, and the Trumpist insurgency of the 2016 election. John talks about the nature of decentralized networks and their ability to form consensus as well as cause disruption and explain why he thinks some of the left-wing insurgencies have been less successful in recent years than their right-wing counterpart. Ultimately, this discussion of decentralized networks brings us to the topic of the COVID-19 pandemic and John's contention that such bottom-up, grassroots networks have played a major role, at least within the Western world, in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, John details how the widespread adoption of social distance measures came from such networks. Additionally John explains the missteps that were made in addressing coronavirus initially while offering some reasons for optimism when comparing the current pandemic to the Spanish Flu. All that and more on this edition of Parallax Views. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON! FOR BONUS CONTENT AND ARCHIVED EPISODES!

On this edition of Parallax Views, long-shot 2020 Democratic Party Presidential hopeful has officially dropped out of the race and endorsed Joe Biden. For a certain segment of progressives Gabbard was seen as the most sufficiently antiwar candidate. Others, however, argued her campaign was riddle with America First reactionary nationalism in progressive clothing. Niko House, a surrogate for Tulsi Gabbard's 2020 Presidential Campaign, joins us to explain his support for Gabbard. Although I myself have voiced much skepticism toward Gabbard, I wanted to give Niko a chance to say his part about controversies surrounding Tulsi Gabbard without the discussion going into full debate mode. I feel that, even though I remain highly skeptical of Tulsi Gabbard, this was, at the very least, an interesting conversation and am hopeful that Niko may return for a more adversarial debate in the future. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON! FOR BONUS CONTENT AND ARCHIVED EPISODES!

On this edition of Parallax Views, Doug Henwood of the Left Business Observer and the Behind the News radio program joins us from ground zero of the pandemic, New York, to discuss his article "A few ambitious points on fighting the crisis". In this article Doug offers a number of proposals for policies to fight the crises created by the coronavirus now and in the future. We also discuss how Doug is doing in the beginning of the episode, some thoughts on the 2020 election, the effect neoliberalism has had on our ability to imagine another world being possible, and much, much more in the course of this conversation. What policies will we need to enact in a post-coronavirus world? I hope that this episode will provide some hints and guidance in the right direction. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON! FOR BONUS CONTENT AND ARCHIVED EPISODES!

On this edition of Parallax Views, Sean Ledwith of Counterfire joins us to discuss his recent article "Coronavirus: the politics of Cummings’ cull" concerning Dominic Cummings, Chief Advisor to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and his "Super-Weirdos" vs the British people potentially resisting them in an age of pandemic. Why did Boris Johnson's administration initially support building "herd immunity" in response to coronavirus coming to the UK? What does "nudge theory" and a shadowy think-tank known as Behavioural Insights Team have to do with Downing Street's coronavirus response team? Find out on this edition of Parallax Views w/ guest Sean Ledwith of Counterfire. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON! FOR BONUS CONTENT AND ARCHIVED EPISODES!

On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. and Casey speak w/ returning guest and veteran journalist Albert Lanier. In this conversation Lanier discusses the coronavirus pandemic in terms of it being an economic crisis as well as a health crisis. In addition we discuss reports of class warfare breaking out in the Hamptons, the 2020 election, and more. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON! FOR BONUS CONTENT AND ARCHIVED EPISODES!

On this bonus edition of Parallax Views, John Feffer of Foreign Policy in Focus joins J.G. and his Parallax Views: The Week That Was co-host Casey to discuss his latest articles "Will the Coronavirus Kill Globalization" and "What the Coronavirus Says About Us". The vast majority of the covnersation is devoted to what COVID-19 means for the age of globalization. As we note in the beginning of the conversation, conservative commentator Pat Buchanan hopes that the virus will spell the end of globalization and a resurgence in nationalist sentiments. Feffer, although critical of aspects of the economic aspects of globalization in its current formation, is hoping for something else entirely and in fact sees COVID-19 as opening the doors for an opportunity. Namely, a new wave of globalization that would be more progressive in nature. In addition to discussing the relationship between globalization and COVID-19 as well as what it means for the future of globalization as a project, John also summarizes his latest article "What the Coronavirus Says About Us" detailing the responses of China, South Korea, Italy, and the United States to the pandemic crisis.   SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWS ON PATREON! FOR BONUS CONTENT AND ARCHIVED EPISODES!