Compact Podcast

Israel’s delay in invading Gaza reaches a head, war-hawks in the GOP re-emerge hungering for war with Iran while the Biden admin seems even headed, and a new agreement is reached in the Auto-Workers Union strike.  Support Independent Journalism:  Compact Magazine is reader-supported. Become a member and gain unlimited access. https://compactmag.com/subscribe Topics Discussed In This Episode: [00:00] - Israel’s delay in invading Gaza [04:25] - Nat’l Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s influence on the Biden Admin’s policy in conflicts in Ukraine and Israel [08:15] - The Iran war-hawks in the GOP re-emerge [12:25] - How will Donald Trump’s relative isolationism impact his campaign as global conflict rises? [15:03] - Trump’s gag order [21:21] - New agreement reached in the United Auto Workers Strike  

The war in Israel continues to provoke wildly conflicting reports. Sohrab Ahmari, Nina Power, and Geoff Shullenberger join Matthew Schmitz.    Compact Magazine is reader-supported. Become a member and gain unlimited access. https://compactmag.com/subscribe

Author Alex Perez discusses the pressure for writers of color to focus on trauma-based stories, the influence of critics in the literary industry, and the challenges faced by writers from non-literary backgrounds. They also explore the class differential in publishing and the potential for future shifts in understanding and representation.

The attack on Israel causes an international incident, as parts of the American left sympathize with Hamas and the rest of the nation recoils. Sohrab Ahmari, Nina Power, and Geoff Shullenberger join Matthew Schmitz.    Compact Magazine is reader-supported. Become a member and gain unlimited access. https://compactmag.com/subscribe Topics Discussed In This Episode: [00:00] Israel is attacked by Hamas [03:09] The Crisis of Therapeutic Decolonization in Academia [07:45] The left’s axioms and abstractions around violence and decolonization are unsustainable logically or practically. [14:05] Does the Hamas attack and its subsequent embrace by the DSA and Black Lives Matter mark a turning back towards moderate/centrist policies by the American Political Establishment? [20:00] What does it mean to be a good person? How do our conceptions of morality impact our politics?  

Matthew Gasda joins Geoff Shullenberger to discuss his latest Compact contribution “Downtown Demons." https://compactmag.com/article/downtown-demons Support Independent Journalism: Compact Magazine is reader-supported. Become a member and gain unlimited access. https://compactmag.com/subscribe

Ethnic Armenians flee Azerbaijan, Matt Gaetz challenges Kevin McCarthy’s leadership in the US House, and Bloomberg reports 94% of all new hires in the S+P 100 went to people of color in 2021. Sohrab Ahmari and Geoff Shullenberger join Matthew Schmitz.   Support Independent Journalism:  Compact Magazine is reader-supported. Become a member and gain unlimited access. https://compactmag.com/subscribe Topics Discussed In This Episode:  [00:00] - Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh citing ethnic cleansing by the government of Azerbaijan, the history of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations if reviewed [09:39] - Matt Gaetz challenges Kevin McCarthy’s speakership citing Ukraine funding  [12:58] - Governor Gavin Newsom names Laphonza Butler as the interim replacement for Senator Dianne Feinstein after her passing last week [16:00] - Does the Freedom Caucus’ factional behavior work when most of the nation desires calmer politics? [18:34] - Bloomberg reports 94% of new hires in S+P100 Companies during the year 2021 went to people of color  

The 2nd Republican debate makes a lot of noise while Biden and Trump zero in on the auto strike to battle over the labor vote, skepticism of Green politics begins to rise, and Russel Brand gets #MeToo’d. Nina Power and Geoff Shullenberger join Matthew Schmitz.  Support Independent Journalism: Compact Magazine is reader-supported. Become a member and gain unlimited access. https://compactmag.com/subscribe   Topics Discussed In This Episode: [00:00] The second Republican Primary Debate - is Nikki Haley the donor-class front runner? [05:48] Trump speaks to auto workers amidst the recent strikes against Ford and GM, asks for union endorsement.  [14:45] How green politics is viewed skeptically in previously exploited nations, such as those in Eastern Europe. [17:45] Vivek’s gaffe / Too much noise, not enough signal from the GOP undercard [19:29] A discussion about the Russel Brand allegations, his career as a controversial-comedian-turned-leftist-icon and why the left is currently rejecting him  

Geoff Shullenberger joins Matthew Schmitz to discuss his latest Compact contribution “What BAP Learned From Feminism.”   Support Independent Journalism:  Compact Magazine is reader-supported. Become a member and gain unlimited access. https://compactmag.com/subscribe   Topics Discussed In This Episode: [00:00] Why read BAP (Bronze Age Pervert)? [03:10] BAP’s thesis: Philosophy is born from eugenics – what does this mean and what is the appeal of his writing? [07:43] BAP adopts the feminist viewpoint of history and transvaluates it to advocate for elitist patriarchy [12:03] Is BAP correct that the matriarchy dominated primordial humanity? [14:52] Is BAP correct that the matriarchy is dominating today’s western world? [18:44] How our modern society already practices the type of Eugenics BAP claims to want - even if it’s impolite to speak about it. [21:16] What is the difference between modern eugenics and BAP’s proposed version? [24:29] Aristocratic elites produced both beautiful works of high culture and mediocre slush throughout history – brief detour into exploring alternative biographies of William Shakespeare. [26:06] Why do liberals hate BAP? [28:27] Examining folk-matriarchal mythologies from 1960s Feminism to today [30:18] Is BAP worthy of being taken seriously by intellectuals or is he just a meme?  

Trump skipping debate to visit auto workers, Biden admin distancing from progressivism, identity politics NGOs losing funding, left-wing money disappearing, Antiracism research as activism or academia

Hamilton Craig joins Geoff Schullenberger to discuss his latest Compact contribution "Why Oliver Anthony Hates Welfare."