The Left Opposition Podcast

We clarify once again our position on the war in Ukraine since on the left the anti-war position often gets us accused of being Putin bootlickers. Our position has not changed, for proletarian international revolution. But does this position doom Ukrainians to their fate? Is Russian imperialism a progressive force against American imperialism?

Aaron summarizes an article by Michael Roberts from the blog "The Next Recession" taking stock of the economic positions of Ukraine and Russia as the "special military operation" completes its 3rd year this week. Special guest Jeffery Booth from the Independent Socialist Group adds to our commentary as well. You can find Michael Roberts writings here:https://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2025/02/24/russia-ukraine-war-three-years-on/https://marxist.com/trump-ends-the-liberal-world-order.htm

Here we discuss what building a genuine alternative to the Democrat Party might look like and what it takes to get there with recurring guest Jeffrey Booth and his article "Getting Past Sanders and Towards a Workers Party".https://independentsocialistgroup.org/2025/02/20/getting-past-sanders-and-towards-a-workers-party/

Lenin wrote: "the Social Democrat’s ideal should not be the trade union secretary, but the tribune of the people, who is able to react to every manifestation of tyranny and oppression, no matter where it appears, no matter what stratum or class of the people it affects". This means standing up for the most oppressed sections of the proletariat regardless if the banks and imperialists fly a Pride flag.

We get into the insane and stupid decisions of the Trump White house from the last few weeks and the response of the Left in gutting USAID, peace talks with Ukraine and Russia, relocating Palestinians, and the like. https://www.leftvoice.org/ceasefire-on-the-brink-trump-and-netanyahu-push-for-renewed-war-in-gaza/https://marxist.com/usaid-imperialist-trojan-horse-goes-in-the-woodchipper.htmCheck out the patreon for our latest dunks on the ACP https://www.patreon.com/c/TheLeftOP/postsClosing song: "Fucked Up" by Macklemore

Hope everyone is doing ok after these insane weeks. Before we get back to our regularly scheduled screaming we need to finish our examination of the high profile resignations at the ACP. If you are frustrated by capitalism this is the last organisation you should be joining.

This ended up being a long goddamn episode so we split it into two parts. The first part covers the helicopter crash into the jet liner along the Potomac river and then we get into the first of multiple resignations from the Executive board over at the so called American Communist Party. These people are deeply unserious clowns and its honestly mind boggling people willingly join this party run by toxic gym bro morons with extremely profoundly bad politics. Anyway S4A did a very good video on this same subject matter so go check them out too: https://youtu.be/sAEi0upaY2s Check out our Patreon for access to Part 2, or wait it out for the free release down the road.

Hey folks it's Aaron, Ben and Joe coming at you with a great episode about Elon Musk, Trump, and Fascism. Is America a fascist country? We dive into Marxist theory and a few articles from Left Voice and Firebrand to help us out because it determines our revolutionary strategy. Articles cited: https://firebrand.red/2024/10/everything-you-hate-isnt-fascism/ https://www.leftvoice.org/what-is-fascism/ https://www.leftvoice.org/thats-not-how-fascism-works/ Find us on Patreon to support the channel! https://www.patreon.com/c/TheLeftOP/posts

2025 opens in true capitalist fashion with horrific mass fires in Los Angeles in the Palisades, a liberal Prime Minister resigns, and the Tik Tok ban forcing millions of Americans to flee to Red Book where they interact with actual Chinese citizens dispelling many misconceptions the working class of both countries had about each other. Closing song: "If They Come in the Morning (No Time for Love) by The Men of No Property. 2004 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings / 1977 Paredon Records

The Canadian postal worker strike was busted, the NALC fights on for a VOTE NO campaign, the Amazon workers strike, and 500 Starbucks Stores walk off the job. What a week its been for class struggle and what a way to end 2024! We end off with a discussion on the class nature of Starbucks baristas. Are they proletarian heroes or petty bourgeois parasites? (Spoiler alert they are workers who deserve a union). The ACP once again launched the barista discourse because they hate starbucks workers for some reason and distort Marx to fit their narrow and bigoted worldview. Audio from Status Coup News https://youtu.be/8103Zq_kBaM?t=1047 Episode cover art (David Ryder / Bloomberg via Getty Images) https://www.marxistworker.ca/articles/interview-with-steve-wexler https://www.marxist.ca/article/postal-workers-strike-union-leadership-smothers-defiance https://labornotes.org/2024/12/amazon-workers-launch-largest-strike-yet-it-doesnt-feel-job-should-be-legal