
Red Menace
Red Menace is a podcast that explains and analyzes revolutionary theory and then applies its lessons to our contemporary conditions.
Hosted by Alyson Escalante and Breht O'Shea.
Latest episodes

Feb 1, 2023 • 20min
Big Announcement: Tripling Our Patreon Output + More
Join the Rev Left Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/RevLeftRadio Join the Red Menace Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace Changes Starting Mid-Feb: - Tripling our monthly patreon output - Covering the headlines more consistently - Being more selective about the topics we cover on the public feed - The integration of Red Menace and Rev Left

Dec 15, 2022 • 1h 58min
"Desert" by Anonymous (Anarchism)
Alyson and Breht summarize, discuss, and critique "Desert", an anarchist text by an anonymous author. Summary: start 7:20 Discussion & Critique: start 45:06

77 snips
Nov 7, 2022 • 2h 16min
"The Conquest of Bread" by Peter Kropotkin
Alyson and Breht summarize and reflect on the famous "Bread Book" by Peter Kropotkin: The Conquest of Bread. After summarizing the text and its main arguments, Alyson and Breht discuss the similarities and differences between Marxism and Anarchism, and both applaud and criticize elements of the text in the process. Support Red Menace on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace

Oct 3, 2022 • 1h 42min
Lyndon LaRouche: A Warning & Lesson for the Communist Left
Donald Parkinson from Cosmonaut Magazine joins Breht to talk about the life, political theory, and legacy of Lyndon LaRouche. In our own time we see LaRouche-type deviations manifesting on the so-called socialist left, and by studying LaRouche and his movement, we can better comprehend - and thus combat - its modern day iterations, while avoiding similar errors. Check out Donald's article in Cosmonaut on LaRouche here: https://cosmonautmag.com/2019/03/larouche-a-warning-for-us-all/

Sep 30, 2022 • 1h 18min
MAGA Communism: Opportunism, Social Chauvinism, and Terminally Online Tailism
Alyson and Breht reflect on the recent online stir caused by "MAGA Communism" and analyze the ideas of some of its main represenatives and proponents. Together they discuss and clarify core marxist concepts, criticize and explain the specific errors being made, shine light on its intellectual influences, explore its connection to previous iterations in american history (like the movement that formed around Lyndon LaRouche), laugh at the extremely predictable response they recieved from Trump supporters, and then they reflect on what it all means and what we can learn from it. Support Red Menace on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace

Aug 31, 2022 • 59min
Neither Liberalism nor Reaction: Centering the 3-Way Fight
In this episode, Alyson and Breht use Devin Zane Shaw's work (specifically his Philosophy of Antifascism) as a jumping off point for exploring the concept of the three way fight, and how principled Marxists and revolutionaries can avoid falling into reaction or tipping into liberalism by understanding and adhereing to it. Check out the Rev Left interview with Devin about his book here: https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/antifascism Support Red Menace on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace

Aug 1, 2022 • 1h 36min
AMA July '22: Freedom & Responsibility (...and Dialectical Materialism)
Alyson and Breht respond to questions from our patrons. Topics discussed include: how to properly evaluate uprisings abroad, important virtues for communists to try and cultivate, and finding hope and solidarity in the face of tragedy and despair... Mao on Dialectics as mentioned by Alyson: https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-8/mswv8_48.htm Support Red Menace and get access to bonus monthly content on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace

Jun 24, 2022 • 2h 8min
The Concept of the Political - Carl Schmitt
Alyson and Breht summarize, discuss, and criticize Carl Schmitt's famous work of political philosophy, The Concept of the Political. Schmitt was a German jurist, political theorist, and prominent member of the Nazi Party. Support Red Menace and get access to bonus monthly content on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace

Jun 2, 2022 • 1h 10min
[UNLOCKED] American Carnage: Mass Shootings, Gun Policy, & Root Causes
Breht and Alyson discuss the recent barrage of mass shootings, how Marxists should think about these issues, what the root causes of american mass shootings are, policies/reforms that the socialist left might be able to support, and much more. Outro music: 'Pray for Newtown' by Sun Kil Moon Support Red Menace and get access to bonus monthly content on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace

May 12, 2022 • 1h 11min
Anti-Choice Onslaught, American Institutional Decay, & Geopolitical Forecasting
On this episode of Red Menace, Alyson and Breht discuss the recent Supreme Court leak and the implications of Roe's dismantling, then they turn to George Friedman's thesis in his book "The Storm Before the Calm: America's Discord, the Coming Crisis of the 2020s, and the Triumph Beyond" - responding to it, criticizing it, and reflecting on what its predictions might mean for the revolutionary left. Support Red Menace and get access to bonus monthly content on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace