The Antifada

In part one of a monster episode, we sit down with Justin Charles of North Brooklyn DSA and the AfroSocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus. Sean is scarred by a perilous bus journey. Rachel Maddow and the libs freak out about potential peace (oh no!) on the Korean Peninsula. Democrats 'Russia Russia Russia' themselves into becoming the NatSec party. Who cares if 81% of South Koreans want an end to the war? (Not the lamestream media!) Super deep dive: where does 'identity politics' come from? Does the left foster conflict between racial groups as per weeping moron Jordan Peterson, or is 'race' a historically constructed category with no basis in biology? Jamie explains the Marxist concept of 'real abstraction'. Justin on how the term 'identity politics' was created by the black, lesbian Marxists of the Combahee River Collective in 1977. The gang then traces — with help from Adolph Reed and the Fields sisters — how this radical conception was watered down into neoliberal diversity capitalism. How does the left avoid 'bad' idpol? What structures should socialist organizations put in place to ensure that racialized and gendered domination is not reproduced within our movement? Is the AfroSocialist and Socialists of Color Caucus a bourgeois radlib beachhead destined to undermine the Democratic Socialists of America? (Spoiler alert: nah.) Part two will further the conversation by addressing critiques of the caucus before it degenerates into dragging on Elon Musk's utopian anarchist turn. Become a patron starting at just $2/month at patreon.com/theantifada Reed articles referenced: leftbusinessobserver.com/Antiracism.html libcom.org/library/marx-race-neoliberalism-adolph-reed-jr Outro music: "The Underside of Power" - Algiers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGZXzmM1smM

On this special premium episode of the Antifada, we take a bunch of questions from our Patreon subscribers. Is it better to forward left politics through the lens of material self-interest or notions of collectivity? What's the best first wave goth band? Which was our favorite revolutionary movement? What's the political economy of the "Handmaid's Tale"? What reformist policy is the best "tip of the spear" towards growing the socialist base? Why the fuck do you call your show The Antifada? Does Maine suck or not? All is revealed within, so if you're not a subscriber sign up today and hear us blab on about how much of a hack Jim Morrison was and how Toussaint L'Ouverture was the best bourgeois revolutionary QED. Outro: “We Hunger” - Azar Swan

The AF crew takes on Jonathan Chait's recent word turd: the things he's wrong about re: "the radical left," as well as the things he's right about but which are actually fine. We discuss the latest labor uprisings in France and the ridiculous choice of Nazi lady vs. neoliberal POS...which leads to a spirited game of "fuck, marry, kill" complete with Justin Trudeau conspiracy theory. Finally we talk about the Dead Kennedys and Jello Biafra for some reason. Sorry for the poor sound quality and delayed release schedule. We were planning to add onto the episode but our new set-up sounds more DIY than we'd like it to, so...yeah. Read Jamie's piece on the French election at Paste Magazine: https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/06/beating-the-populist-right-with-the-neoliberal-cen.html Intro: original theme by Jamie Ingalls Outro: California Uber Alles - Dead Kennedys

Our friend and comrade Natasha Lennard joins us for a discussion themed around her forthcoming book with Brad Evans, "Violence: Humans in Dark Times." Tash's thoughts on the royal wedding. The US media's problematic framing of the most recent killings in Gaza. Angela Davis on the violence of the status quo. The uncounted millions who've met premature deaths due to the predations of capitalism. The connection between racist police murders, private property and the capitalist state. Why simply reforming the police and prison system is not enough. What kind of violence should the left be willing to entertain in service of social change? The depressing facts of social reproduction and the revolutionary possibilities of love. Are you a bad anarchist if you don't fuck everyone? The Antifada's first on-air marriage proposal! Pre-order Natasha's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Violence-Humans-Times-Lights-Media/dp/0872867544 Become a member at Patreon.com/theantifada to unlock some cool shit! Intro music: original theme by Jamie Ingalls End music: The Exploited - Sex and Violence

Jamie, Sean and Andy take a field trip to the occupied New School to interview "K," an anonymous student, about New School students' latest direct action in solidarity with cafeteria workers (repped by UNITE HERE Local 100) and grad students (SENS-UAW). Later, back at the ranch, the gang contextualizes this occupation with some history of the modern university: its roots, its social function, and how it has developed as a site of struggle. What happened in the '70s and '80s that made college so expensive, yet also so necessary? The through-lines from the student occupations of the 1960s to Occupy Wall Street to the Bernie Sanders campaign. Sean and Andy reminisce about their own college years and reveal how they met. Sorry for the poor sound quality, it was our first time recording outside the studio! Info on the current New School Occupation: https://www.facebook.com/occupiedcafeteria/ @NewSchoolReds More on the '08-'11 occupations: http://reocuppied.wordpress.com Intro music: original theme by Jamie Ingalls Interstitial music: World/Inferno Friendship Society - Fiend in Wien End music: Idles - Mother

A brief taste of our premium content, which can be yours for as little as $2/month!

Our guest canceled so Jamie picked up a rando at the DSA convention to fill in. Thanks for being such a good sport, rando! Jamie and the rando — whose name, it turns out, is Andrew Callaway — recap a bit of what went down at the convention, including a "turn-to-industry" proposal and a spicy debate around Bernie 2020. The gang tackles the van attack in Toronto, the "incel rebellion" and why dudes who can't get laid and complain about it online are a kind of hate group. The political economy of angry young misogynists and what to do with them. How to keep those on the fence from turning into Pepes? Jamie's personal story of educating someone. The impact of technology on sex and dating (Sean shows his age). Why everyone will have better sex under socialism. Some social reproduction and historical materialism talk, because why not? Check out the podcast Andrew produces, 'Benjamen Walker's Theory of Everything' at theoryofeverythingpodcast.com REMINDER: Only 82 more patrons to go until we release the first episode of our nonsensical cooking show, 'Acid Kitchen'! Support the show at Patreon.com/theantifada. If you're in New York, check out the DSA Community Healthcare Fair Jamie helped put together! The panel (featuring m4a activist Tim Faust, Soc Fem WG's Emma Caterine, and State Senate candidate Julia Salazar w/ moderation by Michael Brooks) will be live streamed for those who can't make it. facebook.com/events/1888194218137462

If you thought last episode was arcane, get a load of this shit! We sit down with Ross Wolfe of https://thecharnelhouse.org to venture into the farthest, darkest reaches of left theory... in order to resurrect the nightmares of dead generations within the minds of our listeners. Ross discusses how Sean nearly came to blows with famous fashy troll Kantbot at a Verso Books party. Jamie informs Sean that she thought he was a violent horror man when they first dated. We debate the monetary value of a human rib if it's broken within a police riot and subsequent lawsuit. Crew gets down to discussing the political economy of architecture, the merits of grandiosity in construction and the mercenary optimism of high modernist internationalism. Ross explains the evolution of the #doom meme and origins of Yacht Communism. Antifada then does another deep dive into 20th century theory and practice in a wide-ranging discussion of anarchism, council communism, Bordiga, bourgeois barbarism and communization. We all end up slightly depressed at the end, but in different and interesting ways. Remember: access to our Discord community is only $2/mo and the whole package - including voice chat and premium content - is a mere $5. We'd greatly appreciate any support you wanna throw our way. www.patreon.com/theantifada Here's the hilarious Kantbot video: https://youtu.be/iOk6HB609po

In the most cerebral episode yet of The Antifada, Jamie and Sean welcome old friend Asher Dupuy-Spencer of Verso Books into the studio. The gang talks about Jamie's near death experience at a nazi swimming hole in New Hampshire. We celebrate the memory of all-around feminist icon and totally-not ruling class monster-person Barbara Bush... leading Jamie to use the strongest genital-related epithet in the English language. Asher presents two articles by Vivek Chibber and Charlie Post that debate the tactics, strategies and horizons of radical struggle. Oh yeah, and the Antifada reveals it's modest proposal for a kinder, gentler gulag. Remember: access to our Discord community is only $2/mo and the whole package - including voice chat and premium content - is a mere $5. We'd greatly appreciate any support you wanna throw our way. https://www.patreon.com/theantifada Articles: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/12/our-road-to-power https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/02/socialist-organization-strategy-electoral-politics Musical interlude: This is My Fist! - "Voice from Occupationland" https://thisismyfist.bandcamp.com/track/voice-from-occupationland

In The Antifada's HARD LAUNCH episode, Jamie and Sean speak with socialist power couple Doug Henwood and Liza Featherstone about aggression in Syria, the governor's race in New York, and liberal derangement syndrome. Liza does an on-air version of her socialist-feminist advice column in The Nation, "Asking for a Friend." Jamie almost sells out, but mistakes ice cream for soap so w/e. Sean reminds us that leftists don't make heroes of i-banking cops like James Comey. Doug and Liza talk about how they met and their philosophy on makin' red diaper bbs. Jamie and Liza admit they're only in it for the Bernie bro boyfriends. If you like our shit, please consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/TheAntifada. Membership starts at $2/month and includes access to our members-only Discord community! Check out Doug Henwood at lbo-news.com and on his weekly radio show and podcast, "Behind the News": https://kpfa.org/program/behind-the-news/ Liza Featherstone's new book, "Divining Desire: Focus Groups and the Culture of Consultation" is available from Or Books: http://www.orbooks.com/catalog/divining-desire-liza-featherstone/ Check out Liza's "Asking for a Friend" column at The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/asking-for-a-friend/ For comments or suggestions, feel free to email us at antifadamindset at gmail.com