Bad Faith

Seth Harp, an investigative reporter and bestselling author known for his work on U.S. military and intelligence operations, joins to delve into the DC shooting involving CIA-trained Afghans. The conversation critiques the flawed vetting process that overlooks ties to U.S. forces, while examining the broader implications of Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan. Seth highlights the tragic intersection of CIA training, trauma, and poverty, revealing how these elements can lead to violence, all while questioning the media's selective coverage of these incidents.

Delourny Nemorin, a Bronx public defender and DSA organizer, is on a mission to challenge Ritchie Torres in New York's 15th district. She discusses her motivations and critiques Torres for neglecting local needs and his controversial votes. Delourny debates the potential for progressives to enact change from within the Democratic Party and emphasizes practical policy goals like housing and healthcare. She also touches on the influence of money in politics and stresses the importance of community organizing, aiming for reforms that truly benefit her constituents.

Ross Barkan, a New York Magazine columnist and political analyst, teams up with Nerdeen Kiswani, a Palestinian activist and founder of Within Our Lifetime. They dive into the controversies surrounding New York's newly elected mayor Zohran Mamdani. Topics include Mamdani’s surprising endorsements, the implications of retaining Jessica Tisch for policing, and the balance he seeks between addressing protests and appeasing opposition. Their discussion offers a critical lens on political strategy and the complexities of activism.

Join public defender and civil rights advocate Alec Karakatsanis and antitrust expert Matthew Stoller as they dive deep into the contentious 'defund the police' movement. Alec shares compelling historical insights on policing as a mechanism of power, while Matthew raises concerns about state capacity and public safety. Their debate explores the implications of the phrase 'defund', its reception in society, and alternatives for ensuring safety without armed police. The discussion highlights the crucial balance between reform and a radical vision for change.

Hazami Barmada, a bold Palestinian activist known for her provocative street theater, and Aru Shiney-Ajay, an influential leader within the Sunrise Movement, join the discussion on direct action as a catalyst for change. Hazami shares her insights on the alarming lack of public awareness surrounding critical issues. Aru critiques the democratic limitations exposed by the January 6 events, arguing for a more strategic approach to empower the left. Together, they explore the challenges posed by corporate influences on progressive movements.

Is having boyfriend embarrassing? Are we living in an era of "heteropessimism"? Are women over marriage? These questions have gone viral in recent weeks as the country continues to grapple with changing gender norms and the effect the right wing radicalization of men has had on women's' attitudes toward marriage and child bearing. This week, a new study showing that, for the first time, female high school seniors were less interested in marriage than male seniors provoked an online debate about whether this was a consequence of growing male conservatism, or alternatively, whether men were facing "bigotry" from women who were making broad and essentialist claims about men. Eighteen year old Zohran volunteer deemed "hot girl for Zohran" by the New York post found herself on one side of the argument, while Drop Site news journalist Ryan Grim found himself on the other. Bad Faith brought them together to hash it out: Whose fault is the male loneliness epidemic, and if the root of the problem is economic, how should the left express sympathy for victims of the root cause without lacking sympathy for the female victims of misogyny? Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).

Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock this episode and our entire premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast Lefty content creators Grace Blakeley & James Li have done terrific coverage on the newly released Epstein files, and this is ostensibly a discussion about that. But we ended up having a larger conversation about the obligation of content creators to define and broaden the terms of debate, to push left, to co-opt mainstream spaces (or create our own), to use "woke" language or avoid putting off a mainstream audience by correcting others, how to protest, and whether to own our moral judgments instead of debating about procedure. Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).

Drop Site News journalist Murtaza Hussain joins to discuss a trove of documents which shows Jeffery Epstein's close relationship with Israeli intelligence, and which lends credibility to accusations that he may have been Mossad. Drop Site News has now reported four stories detailing Epstein's role in selling Israeli surveillance technology to Cote D'Ivoire & Russia, sending coded emails telegraphing drop-offs with Israeli intelligence in New York, and even hosting an Israeli spy at his NY apartment. Recorded hours before the House's release of Epstein emails showcasing his relationship with Trump, Larry Summers, & other powerful politicos, this episode surfaces an aspect of the story that the mainstream media is still unwilling to acknowledge: The Israel/Epstein connection. Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).

Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock this episode and our entire premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast Contributing editor at The New Republic and author of new book The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding Osita Nwanevu joins Briahna to discuss the state of U.S. democracy, the failures of the Democratic Party as a resistance party, avenues for genuine resistance (e.g. packing the court, nixing the filibuster, D.C. statehood) that the Democrats have so far failed to avail themselves of, and whether Zohran Mamdani's victory changes anything about Briahna's cynicism. Is the goal winning at any cost? Are there things more important than winning elections, like the way Mamdani changed public opinion on the right of Israel to exist as an apartheid state? Is the left making a mistake in over investing in electoral victories? Or are those who criticize the left for not actually wanting power right? Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).

Independent journalist Jasper Nathaniel shares gripping tales from the West Bank, including his harrowing experience filming settler violence. Ubai Abudi, an advocate for Palestinian rights, discusses the dire conditions and daily experiences under occupation, stressing the urgent need for international protection. Dr. Jill Stein introduces 'Uniting for Peace,' a UN initiative that could bypass U.S. vetoes to safeguard Palestinian rights, arguing for a global shift in policy. Together, they call for activism and accountability in challenging systemic oppression.