Current Affairs

He has shown that a socialist message can win people over. His campaign is a model that should be emulated everywhere.🗽 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/zohran-mamdanis-victory-is-just-what-the-left-needed🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

The latest Democratic fad sidelines equality and justice in favor of a focus on cutting red tape. This is not the path forward.🌎 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/abandon-abundance🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

Ralph Nader is one of the most important and successful activists in American political history. He played a key role in creating the consumer rights movement in the 1960s and ’70s, and his push for auto safety regulation led to measures that saved countless lives. He has also run multiple insurgent campaigns for president, challenging the two-party system and offering powerful criticisms of corporate power.Nader joins Current Affairs to analyze Donald Trump’s authoritarianism, the Democratic Party’s failure to offer a compelling alternative, and the media’s role in narrowing public imagination. He also responds to Ezra Klein’s recent critique in Abundance, arguing that it shifts blame away from institutional failures and undermines genuine political accountability.📣 Ralph's latest book, Civic Self Respect: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/718731/civic-self-respect-by-ralph-nader/📣 Ralph's website: https://nader.org/📣 Interview transcript: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/ralph-nader-on0:00–5:36 Trump’s Authoritarian Rule5:36–10:39 What Deserves Our Focus Now10:39–15:43 Democratic Party Malpractice15:43–21:19 Ezra Klein’s Attack on Nader21:19–29:45 How Ordinary People Build Power29:45–38:39 Proven Victories by Citizen Action38:39–45:58 Pessimism as a Tool of Control45:58–52:28 Nader Reflects on His Life's Work🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

Katrina vanden Heuvel is the publisher and editorial director of The Nation, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and an advocate for diplomacy, disarmament, and international cooperation. She returns to Current Affairs to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, the erosion of U.S. diplomacy, and the bipartisan consensus around militarism.She outlines the details of the Quincy Institute’s U.S. peace plan, explains why diplomacy is often smeared as appeasement, and explores what a negotiated end to the war might actually look like. We also explore whether Trump, despite his transactional and erratic instincts, might paradoxically be the only figure capable of restarting peace talks. Nathan concludes with an analysis of the "security dilemma" and how the logic of militarism is driving a global arms race under the guise of self-defense.🕊️ Read Katrina in The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/authors/katrina-vanden-heuvel/ 🕊️ Subscribe to The Nation: https://subscriptions.thenation.com/TNA/?f=Site01&s=F5X001 🕊️ The Quincy Institute's Peace Plan: https://quincyinst.org/research/a-u-s-peace-plan-for-ukraine/#executive-summary0:00-5:15 Is Trump Interested In Peace?5:15-17:05 The U.S. Peace Plan for Ukraine17:21-26:53 Diplomacy vs. Appeasement26:53-31:21 How Does The War End?31:21-38:58 The Security Dilemma

Even by the standards of right-wing rhetoric, Miller’s public statements are uncommonly shameless. He treats his audience as stupid and gullible. 🦎 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-brainless-propaganda-of-stephen-miller 🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership 🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs 🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

Lindsey Boylan, a former aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo and the first to publicly accuse him of harassment, sheds light on Cuomo's dangerous patterns of abuse. She compares his authoritarian tactics to those of Donald Trump, detailing how Cuomo weaponized state resources to silence critics. Boylan also discusses the manipulation of COVID narratives and the tragic consequences of Cuomo's decisions on vulnerable populations. With Cuomo now a frontrunner for New York mayor, Boylan's urgent warning emphasizes the risks of allowing such behavior to persist.

Lindsay Boylan, a former aide to Andrew Cuomo who publicly accused him of sexual harassment, shares her firsthand insights on Cuomo's troubling legacy. The conversation dives into allegations of a toxic work environment and the chilling tactics used to silence dissent. They discuss Cuomo's disastrous handling of the COVID-19 crisis, including the mismanagement of nursing home data. Boylan also critiques the moral silence of Democratic leaders and the dangers of allowing someone with Cuomo's history to re-enter political office.

In this discussion, Richard Wolff, host of Economic Update and author of multiple books on economics, takes listeners on a deep dive into the complexities of capitalism. He argues that economics is intentionally obfuscated, hindering public understanding. Wolff critiques the myth of capitalism's prosperity, revealing its roots in instability and inequality. He analyzes America’s imperial decline and challenges the economic narratives fueling anti-immigrant sentiments, emphasizing the positive impact of immigrants on the economy. A thought-provoking exploration of power dynamics and economic truths!

Amy Goodman, a trailblazing journalist and host of Democracy Now!, shares insights into Noam Chomsky's critique of U.S. foreign policy, emphasizing its relevance today. Bev Stohl reflects on personal anecdotes from her time working with Chomsky at MIT, revealing his warmth and humor. Greg Grandin provides historical context, examining how Chomsky's ideas challenge mainstream narratives. Victor Pickard discusses the media's role in shaping public perception, highlighting the need for critical engagement with journalism. Together, they uncover the enduring legacy of Chomsky's activism in today's political landscape.

John Cassidy, a staff writer at The New Yorker and author of 'Capitalism and Its Critics,' dives into the multifaceted critiques of capitalism throughout history. He highlights the evolution of criticism from economic figures like Adam Smith and Karl Marx, and shines a light on often-overlooked female critics like Joan Robinson and Rosa Luxemburg. Cassidy explores the complex relationship between capitalism and technology, critiques from the right, and the urgent need for a re-evaluation of capitalism's future amidst modern socio-political challenges.