Millennials Are Killing Capitalism

Reverend Darren, a Wisconsin-based minister and biblical scholar, delves into the implications of the Amalek narrative from the Old Testament as it relates to modern genocidal rhetoric, particularly surrounding the Gaza conflict. He compellingly discusses the intersection of faith and politics, critiquing the silence of liberal churches and exploring how narratives of Amalek are weaponized in today’s geopolitical landscape. Darren also addresses U.S. imperialism, the exploitation of biblical stories in political discourse, and the urgent need for solidarity with oppressed communities.

Abdaljawad Omar and Lara Sheehi joined us on the 2nd anniversary of the beginning of Tufan Al-Aqsa! From the youtube livestream (which I encourage people to watch): We will remember the morning of October 7th 2023. In the two years since then there has been a genocidal counterinsurgency war waged against the whole Palestinian population, most acutely through the apocalyptic decimation of the Gaza Strip. There has also been constant resistance in many forms. How do we consider the present moment, the possibilities (once again) of "ceasefire," the attempts to end the "Palestinian Question," the actuality of resistance and the possibilities for a resistance that will produce a liberated Palestine, and more broadly a world that we all want to inhabit. Remind yourself of some of the images from Tufan Al-Aqsa.  Abdaljawad Omar is a Palestinian scholar, educator, and theorist whose work focuses on the politics of resistance, decolonization, and the Palestinian struggle. He has written extensively in Arabic. In English, in addition to being a frequent contributor to Millennials Are Killing Capitalism, he has contributed to Electronic Intifada, Ebb Magazine, Material, Mondoweiss, Communis, Monthly Review, and Rusted Radishes among other outlets. Lara Sheehi is a Research Fllow at the University of South Africa. She was the founding faculty director of the Psychoanalysis and the Arab World Lab. Lara's work takes up decolonial and anti-oppressive approaches to psychoanalysis, with a focus on liberation struggles in the Global South. She is co-author with Stephen Sheehi of Psychoanalysis Under Occupation: Practicing Resistance in Palestine (Routledge, 2022) which won the Middle East Monitor's 2022 Palestine Book Award for Best Academic Book. Lara is the author of the forthcoming book, From the Clinic to the Street: Psychoanalysis for Revolutionary Futures (Pluto Press, 2026) Support Palestinians through the Sameer Project or Lifeline4Gaza"

In this engaging discussion, Joe Emersberger, a journalist and co-author of "Extraordinary Threat," dives into the U.S. military's recent escalation in Venezuela. He connects the normalization of aerial assassinations to the post-9/11 era and explores how drug war rhetoric has merged with counterterrorism strategies. Joe reveals the troubling history of U.S. interventions, from the 2002 coup to the recent bombing of boats. He also shares insights on leftist movements in Ecuador, the complexities of political betrayal, and the urgent need for reforms to support Global South development.

In this episode, we speak with Iker Suárez, who authored a searing piece in the Monthly Review titled "The Migrant Genocide: Toward a Third World Analysis of European Class Struggle." In it, he challenges the dominant humanitarian framing of migrant deaths at sea, arguing that it isn’t a moral crisis but a structural necessity of late imperialism. What unfolds on Europe’s shores, he contends, is but a violent expression of global capital’s unraveling. Further, diving into the works of scholars like Ali Kadri and Samir Amin, we explore how unresolved agrarian contradictions in the Global South, the accumulation of waste, and the labor-capital contradiction are converging in the form of the systemic genocide of migrants. We unpack why immigration is not a peripheral issue, but the return of capital’s deepest contradiction to the imperial core—and how this rupture shapes Europe’s ideological terrain, from the failures of social democracy to the rise of fascism. Iker Suarez is an author and doctoral researcher. He studies neocolonialism in Europe and organizes in socialist, anti-racist and anti-imperialist movements in Madrid and New York. His work revolves around European borders, class struggle, and immigration politics from a political economy perspective grounded in the Third World. He co-authored a book on Spain's southern border enclave in northern Morocco (Melilla), focusing on the neocolonial dynamics that undergird European social democracies. His current research focuses on linking European state racism with a holistic understanding of imperialism to better think through strategy. You can follow his work at @ikersuarz. If you like what we do and want to support our ability to have more conversations like this. Please consider becoming a Patron. You can do so for as little as a 1 Dollar a month.  Related: “War Is the Basis of Accumulation” - Ali Kadri on Genocide, Waste, Imperialism, and the Commodification of Death Study Group Ali Kadri's Accumulation of Waste (only about 5 spots left)

Tara Alami, a Palestinian writer and researcher, shares her insights on Jordan's role in the U.S.-led imperial system. She delves into her family's history amidst the Palestinian exodus and explores the challenges faced by marginalized communities in Jordan. The conversation shifts to the implications of Jordan's monarchy, its portrayal of Palestinian identity, and the impact of foreign influences. Alami critiques the custodianship of al-Aqsa and highlights the historical interplay of U.S. imperialism with Jordanian politics and society.

Corinna Mullin, an anti-imperialist academic and member of the Anti-Imperialist Scholars Collective, dives deep into the intersection of Zionism, U.S. imperialism, and global fascism. She explores the complexities of anti-Zionism versus anti-Semitism and emphasizes the significance of historical parallels in understanding contemporary social repression. Mullin discusses the role of education and activism at CUNY in advocating for Palestinian liberation, while critiquing media biases in coverage of global conflicts. Her insights draw connections between colonialism, capitalism, and the fight for justice.

This is the lightly edited audio from a recent livestream episode we hosted with Nora Barrows-Friedman. Nora Barrows-Friedman is a staff writer and associate editor at The Electronic Intifada, and is the author of In Our Power: US Students Organize for Justice in Palestine (Just World Books, 2014). She hosts the Electronic Intifada (EI) Livestreams that we all watch on Thursdays at noon eastern time.  In this discussion, we talk about some of Nora's background as a journalist, her work covering student organizing around Palestine, and her recent piece, "Israel abducted starving children at Gaza “aid” sites, then tortured them."  Nora also shares some of EI’s journalistic methodology covering a war that is so highly propagandized. We also get into some of the differences between "Israeli" media and US corporate media in terms of how they cover the acts of the Israeli military and government and the genocide and war crimes that have taken place in Palestine. And we talk about how merely comparing reporting from the two contexts tears their atrocity propaganda narratives to shreds. As many public officials, media personalities, and governments, who have facilitated and supported the genocide in Gaza shift their tone in recent days, we talk about what we think about this phenomenon. And we discuss concepts of accountability and justice as they relate to this horrific phase in human history. If you appreciate the work that we do, until August 29th we are offering 30% off the first month of a monthly subscription or 30% off the first year if you sign up for a yearly subscription at patreon.com/millennialsarekillingcapitalism. This discount is available for all tiers starting with $5 a month, use discount code: 06E4A. We hear from families in Gaza that prices have gone down a bit as some food has reached the markets in the last couple of days. There is a new tool called Lifeline4Gaza.com that some mutual aid organizers have put together that I wanted to share with folks as well. It allows people to find peer-to-peer authenticated campaigns from Gaza that have not received necessary support. At the top of the page will be campaigns who have received the least over the last 5 days. In a time where many families are in desperate need and where there is food available or purchase, a few dollars - and you sharing these campaigns - can make a critical difference for families in need.

We hosted an emergency livestream with Hala Sabbah of the Sameer Project back on July 21st to talk about the absolutely horrific situation in Gaza as a result of the US-funded and supported Israeli enacted genocide. Since conditions have not changed substantially, I wanted to also make sure to get a lightly edited version of that conversation out to our audio podcast feed. Just a reminder that due to our own limitations these days most of our work is on our YouTube page, where we host multiple conversations per week.  This is our third conversation with Hala Sabbah from the Sameer Project since its founding during this genocide. We have a playlist with all three.  You can support the Sameer Project via their linktree which we will include in the show description as well Another conversation we held this week that I will link in the show description is our interview of Nora Barrows-Friedman of the Electronic Intifada, which we just hosted on Monday.  Please continue to do what you can, wherever you can, to support people in Gaza and to put political pressure on all of those complicit in this genocide to make their position untenable. Tomorrow, Thursday August 7th at 10 AM EDT we will host a livestream with socialist and Pro-Palestine barrister Franck Magennis. We encourage people to tune into that conversation as well. And on Monday August 11th we’ll have a livestream with Abdaljawad Omar once again. For the month of August if folks contribute at the $5 per month level or hiring we’re offering a 30% discount to new patrons for their first month, or if you do a yearly subscription you can get 30% off the entire year. You can do that at patreon.com/millennialsarekillingcapitalism or if you prefer to make a one-time contribution you can do so via our buymeacofee page: https://buymeacoffee.com/makcapitalism  

Alana Lentin, a Professor of Cultural and Social Analysis in Sydney, discusses her book, which explores the concept of the 'New Racial Regime' and its implications for contemporary society. She tackles the backlash against Critical Race Theory and the complexities of racial capitalism. Lentin reflects on the role of Zionism in academia, scrutinizes corporate authenticity in diversity initiatives, and critiques the evolving discourse on antisemitism. This insightful conversation challenges listeners to reconsider ideological battles surrounding race and identity in today's world.

Eric Mann, a veteran civil rights organizer and co-director of the Labor/Community Strategy Center, shares his journey through the transformative 1960s. He discusses his key role in the Columbia University student strike and his experiences as a political prisoner, shedding light on the carceral system and activism's emotional toll. Mann highlights the necessity of building a black-led united front against imperialism and reflects on George Jackson's legacy while advocating for empowerment in urban communities. His insights underline the importance of strategic alliances in the fight for social justice.