This Is Hell!

Algernon Austin, Director for Race and Economic Jusice at the Center for Economic and Policy research discusses his recent writing including, "Black People Need Better Options than the Morgue or Mass Incarceration," "Black People (And Everyone Else) Should Avoid Crypto," "Only Radical Changes Will Make Rents Affordable," and "Black Children are Disproportionately Harmed by Extremist Gun Rights Policies in the US.

Chuck is back from his vacation! Today he talked to journalist Steven Thrasher about his book "The Viral Underclass The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide." We also have your Hangover Cure, this week in Rotten History, and some of your answers to the Question from Hell!.

Producer Dan introduces two interviews with activist and scholar Norman Finkelstein, talking about the Israeli siege of Gaza. We also crown this week's winning answer to the Question from Hell!.

Producer Lindsey presents a 2020 interview with Labor historian Tamara Fernando on disease and East Indian pearl fisheries, and what those early capitalist labor conditions in relation to diseases can tell us about the still-current moment.

Producer Seb introduces a 2016 interview with postcolonial studies scholar Ashley Dawson on capitalism powered extinction events around the globe. He also has some answers to this week's Question from Hell! and tries (without success) to come up with a valid hangover cure.

Producer Lindsey plays a 2015 interview with science journalists Elizabeth Grossman and Valerie Brown on the failure of government regulatory agency and corporate greed in the chemical industry and how those things are making everyone sicker and less safe.

Producer Dan introduces two interviews with Kurdish activist Dilar Dirik, talking about the movement for Kurdish liberation and how that movement's politics represent an alternate vision to the neoliberal world order.

Producer Dan plays two interviews from the vault that deal with the U.S. war in Iraq, and the subsequent rise of ISIS in the region.

We welcome investigative journalist Amanda Sperber back to the program to talk about her recent Baffler article "Prelude to a Redeployment - Listening for signs of the Americans in Kismayo, Somalia." After the interview we present a brand new Moment of Truth with Jeff Dorchen, and declare the winning answer to this week's Question from Hell!. https://thebaffler.com/latest/prelude-to-a-redeployment-sperber

Sociologist Raul Perez talks about his book "The Souls of White Jokes: How Racist Humor Fuels White Supremacy," we have this week in Rotten History, and read more of your answers to this week's Question from Hell!.