Varn Vlog

Professor Matthew McManus joins us to explore liberal socialism, the right's evolution, and the shifting global political landscape.• Carlo Rossellini's work articulates a socialism that confronts both Marxist determinism and fascism• Rossellini criticized Italian leftists for failing to understand fascism's emotional appeal• Liberal socialism aims to make the promise of freedom true for everyone, especially the working poor• Mouffe and Laclau's influential work acknowledges the importance of recognizing political enemies• Axel Honneth introduces "social freedom" as a third dimension beyond negative and positive liberty• Trump's presidency reveals the collapse of centrist neoliberalism and democrats' failure to offer alternatives• European powers and Canada now defying American leadership shows declining US global dominance• The left needs to focus on building coalitions rather than demanding ideological purityFind Matthew's writing in Jacobin, Christian Socialism, Current Affairs, and Commonwealth, or reach him directly at mattmcmanusprof@gmail.com.Send us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon

Capitalism's crisis theories reveal more about leftist political failures than economic reality, as deterministic approaches miss the cultural dimensions of decay while simultaneously failing to deliver the promised revolutionary outcomes.• Examining Aufheben's' "Decadence, the Theory of Decline or Decline of Theory" as a framework for understanding how leftists conceptualize capitalism's decay• Crisis theories traditionally mark WWI as capitalism's turning point toward decline, though interpretations vary widely among Marxist traditions• Neoliberalism is fundamentally misunderstood by leftists who equate it with laissez-faire policies rather than recognizing its public-private partnership model• Conservative decadence theories correctly identify cultural symptoms but propose solutions that accelerate the problems they diagnose• Contemporary manifestations of decadence include declining literacy, rising obesity, and political systems that increasingly cannot function according to their own principles• The business cycle's reassertion after periods of apparent stability challenges deterministic theories of capitalism's inevitable collapse• Multipolarity's emergence in global politics creates new instabilities but also potential openings for changeSend us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon

Flamenco's haunting rhythms carry centuries of suppressed memories—the echoes of Spain's Jewish and Muslim communities, expelled and erased through centuries of ethnic cleansing. Yet somehow, these cultural memories persist through sound and verse, creating what poet Ben Meyerson calls "diasporic memory."In this conversation that spans continents and centuries, Meyerson takes us deep into the inspiration behind his collection "Seguirías," named after a flamenco form known for its mournful depth. "I was using it as a shorthand for diasporic memory," he explains, "for the recording of diasporic memory or itinerant memory in various ways." Through his poetry, Meyerson creates a powerful bridge between the experiences of Spain's persecuted minorities and his own Jewish identity in North America.The discussion moves effortlessly between practical craft considerations—like how to adapt flamenco's complex 12-beat rhythms into English verse—to profound questions about poetic subjectivity. Drawing from his academic work on medieval troubadour poetry, Meyerson offers a fascinating perspective: that subjectivity itself might be a formal choice rather than an authentic expression. "Choosing to be a subject in a poem is a choice," he argues, "it's not just something that we automatically do."We also explore the limitations of contemporary workshop culture, where poems focused on personal trauma can sometimes create a flattened social interior where readers are only invited to validate rather than engage. Throughout, Meyerson demonstrates how poetry can be both intellectually rigorous and emotionally affecting—challenging readers while still offering them a way into the experience.Whether you're fascinated by poetry's relationship to music, interested in cultural memory, or simply looking for fresh perspectives on the craft of writing, this conversation will leave you with new ways to think about how poetry preserves what history tries to erase. Discover how form becomes memory and memory becomes form in Ben Meyerson's remarkable work.Send us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon

Nicolas Villarreal, a researcher focused on German education and state theory, delves into how 19th-century Prussian military academies shaped modern bureaucracies and liberal democracies. He discusses the tension between professional bureaucratic classes and authoritarian leaders, highlighting gaps in Marxist theory regarding military and state formation. Villarreal also critiques the inadequacies of current economic structures, drawing parallels to historical crises, and examines how elite academia often disconnects from societal issues like race and gender.

America's hidden Marxist history reveals a country where radical ideas took root in ways we've deliberately forgotten. Dr. Andrew Hartman takes us on a journey through this erased past, uncovering how deeply Marx's ideas penetrated American society from the Civil War through today.Marx himself was surprisingly connected to America, writing hundreds of articles for the New York Tribune—the world's most-read newspaper in the 1850s—and developing key theories about labor and freedom through his analysis of American slavery. These writings would profoundly shape his masterwork, Capital, yet few Americans know this historical connection exists.The real revelation comes when we discover how widely Marx's ideas spread across America's heartland. Oklahoma socialists outnumbered Republicans for a decade. Mining towns in Montana and Colorado witnessed class warfare that rivals any European struggle. Jack London wasn't just writing adventure tales but promoting Marxism through passionate speeches and novels like The Iron Heel. These weren't fringe movements but significant political forces shaping American life.What makes American Marxism distinct is its remarkable hybridization—merging with evangelical Christianity in the South, populism in the Midwest, and civil rights activism in Black communities. Far from a rigid foreign ideology, Marxist thought provided analytical tools that diverse Americans adapted to understand their specific struggles against exploitation.Through economic crashes, war, and cultural upheaval, Marxist ideas have resurged repeatedly in American life—most recently since the 2008 financial crisis. By recovering this deliberately obscured history, we gain insight not just into our past but into the persistent appeal of radical critiques when capitalism fails to deliver on its promises of freedom and prosperity for all.Send us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon

Alexander Benedict, a poet and scholar focused on German poetry and American counterculture, shares fascinating insights on the connections between Rainer Maria Rilke, Paul Celan, and Cleveland's DA Levy. They discuss how Levy's work mirrors Rilke’s mystical use of angels and confronts themes of mortality and beauty. The conversation highlights the complexity of translating poetry and how Buddhist influences shape Levy's identity, revealing ties to literary figures like Gary Snyder rather than the Beat poets. It's a deep dive into poetic traditions that defy cultural boundaries.

In a thought-provoking discussion, Colin Bodayle, a doctoral student at Villanova University specializing in Marx and Heidegger, reveals the disturbing links between Martin Heidegger's philosophy and fascism. He critiques how Heidegger’s concepts of authenticity and Dasein fundamentally support a fascist worldview. The conversation dives into the selective editing of Heidegger's manuscripts, the mystification around his Nazi past, and explores connections between German thinkers and far-right ideologies. Bodayle emphasizes the importance of confronting these uncomfortable truths in academia.

Donald Parkinson, a member of the Marxist Unity Group and editorial board member of Cosmonaut Magazine, dives into the parallels between today’s political climate and 19th century France. He discusses the allure of right-wing populism for some leftists, exploring the dangerous alliances reminiscent of General Boulanger. The conversation highlights the internal conflicts in the MAGA movement and critiques the historical debates among socialists regarding these alliances. Parkinson also examines the implications of rising socioeconomic dissatisfaction and the evolving nature of political dynamics today.

Dr. Vanessa Wills takes us on an intellectual journey through the heart of Marx's ethical vision – perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of his revolutionary philosophy. As we trace her path from anti-war activism to Marxist scholarship, Dr. Wills demolishes the persistent myth that Marx had no ethics or moral framework. Instead, she reveals how his entire project was fundamentally concerned with human flourishing, dignity, and liberation.The conversation cuts through decades of academic confusion to show how Marx's dialectical method allows us to understand apparent contradictions in his thought. Yes, he rejected abstract moralizing, but simultaneously offered a profound critique of capitalism rooted in human needs and capacities. This isn't inconsistency – it's the recognition that ethics emerge from material conditions while simultaneously guiding our transformation of those conditions.We explore how Marx's understanding of human nature as dynamic and social challenges both liberal individualism and crude collectivism. The false opposition between individual and society dissolves when we recognize that genuine individuality can only flourish through rich social relations. Capitalism's claim to champion the individual rings hollow when we see how it systematically destroys actual human beings while claiming to celebrate abstract individualism.Perhaps most urgently, Dr. Wills explains how Marx's ethical vision speaks to our current crises of ecological destruction, social alienation, and political fragmentation. From the commodification of identity in social media to the resurgence of rigid gender roles, modern phenomena reflect the contradictions Marx identified. His materialist approach doesn't abandon ethics but grounds them in the real conditions and potentials of human existence.This conversation invites us to rediscover Marx not as a cold determinist, but as a thinker whose commitment to human flourishing offers a framework for addressing our most pressing ethical questions. By understanding exploitation, alienation, and commodification as barriers to our collective survival and development, we gain new tools for imagining and creating a world where human dignity isn't just proclaimed but materially possible.Send us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon

In this conversation, legal expert Elijah Emery sheds light on the troubling expansion of executive power in the U.S. He argues that recent administrations have increasingly governed through executive orders, bypassing Congress's legislative authority. Emery discusses the misuse of emergency powers for tariffs, defiance of court rulings, and even deportations without due process, all suggesting a breakdown of constitutional governance. With civil society beginning to organize legal resistance, the dialogue emphasizes the urgent need for accountability and the preservation of democratic checks.