The Left Opposition Podcast

Aaron opens the show with a presentation on the influences of Marxism in the archaeological profession in both theories and more recently, practice. The conditions of archaeology as a profession and industry not only produced an exploited class of field workers but paved the way for unionization of archaeologists. Joining the program is our guest Sean who helped lead the initial unionizing campaign back in 2017 and continues to represent archaeologists within the broader labour movement.

The Air Canada flight attendants go on strike, then defy back to work orders only to be sold out by union leadership. What can we learn from this? The working class can learn of its power by drawing on previous strikes to fight back and win.

With nothing stopping Israel's genocide and a famine going full steam ahead in Gaza, we take stock of the conditions on the ground. What more can we say at this point? Then we get into Trump and Epstein, and have some fun with the Sydney Sweeney "Good Jeans" controversy.Cover art by taqadoom.com

Union busting scab Hulk Hogan dies, AOC defends the Iron Dome again, and a new study shows the average American worker has to have started working since the year 1740 to have earned as much as the average CEO in 2025. What does this mean? That CEOs are our betters and we should bow down to their work ethic. We also take some time to shit on the ACP some more.

With the defeat of the Cuomontang by General Maomdani, we will achieve socialism in one city, New York City that is, any day now. As a light of the world, New York will become a glorious people's republic. But not all socialists are on board. Joining us is Ken from Firebrand to discuss his article on why Zohran Mamdani is not a socialist, but an opportunist, a populist, representing a general trend we need to be wary of in the ongoing struggle against the Democratic Party, Trump, and capitalism.https://firebrand.red/2025/07/mamdani-the-dsa-and-the-reactionary-gravity-of-the-democrats/https://firebrand.red/2025/06/should-socialists-support-zohran-mamdani/https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/06/26/ovnc-j26.htmlhttps://marxist.com/united-states-zohran-mamdani-stuns-establishment-is-this-a-step-toward-a-socialist-nyc.htm

We don't have much planned in this episode, just sharing our thoughts on the incredibly half assed attempts to manufacture consent over WMDs, nukes and Iran, as if we haven't heard them a billion times before. We barely get through the episode without bringing up the ACP in the end, because they are trash and deserve to be dunked on for supporting Trump as the so-called "peace" candidate.

Ashley Rogers of the Independent Socialist Group joins us to discuss mass protest and movements, and the need for the LGBTQ liberation movement to regain control of Pride as a protest and not a corporate sponsored parade. An injury to one is an injury to all, and every mass movement must unite along class lines to stop Trumps MAGA agenda and build for a better future.

As we sat down to record, Israel decides to strike Iran. Blows have been exchanged back and forth, we had very little information at the time of recording. Tune in next week for a discussion on that! In the mean time, here are our thoughts on the ICE raids in LA, the resistance and elevation of the workers and students on the ground defending their communities, the Madleen flotilla and Greta Thunberg, and we express our solidarity with the PSL against the McCarthyite witch hunt. Lastly we weigh in on the Zohran Mamdani race against Cuomo.Sources for this week's episode:https://communistusa.org/why-communists-cant-support-zohran-mamdanihttps://marxist.com/freedom-flotilla-abduction-sparks-mass-anger.htmhttps://www.leftvoice.org/hands-off-our-unions-defend-david-huerta-and-unite-the-fight-against-ice/https://www.leftvoice.org/ice-raids-in-los-angeles-state-brutality-popular-resistance-and-class-struggle/https://marxist.com/ice-out-of-la-workers-defend-themselves-against-trump-s-raids.htm

Ben and Chris get together and discuss the USA's ticking time bomb of national debt. Contrary to what some on the Left might think, national debt is actually very real and sooner or later the bill comes due. The question is who pays the tab?

Tristan from Left Voice, Mark from Firebrand and Angus from the Independent Socialist Group join us to discuss whether or not Russia is an imperialist power and what it might mean for the international working class.Closing song by our comrade Joe Messina, RadicalizeMe on youtube. "Lenin". Check it out here. https://youtu.be/Y74e3XdYLf0?si=6CG5dZNQcvLYixkRhttps://www.leftvoice.org/no-to-the-war-russian-troops-out-of-ukraine-nato-out-of-eastern-europe-no-to-imperialist-rearmament/https://independentsocialistgroup.org/2022/03/02/imperialist-powers-clash-over-ukraine/https://firebrand.red/2023/06/no-u-s-nato-arms-to-ukraine/