Current Affairs

Cory Doctorow is the author of over 20 books, including The Internet Con, How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism, and the science fiction novels Unauthorized Bread and Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. He’s also an activist for civil liberties on the internet with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and a prolific blogger at his website Pluralistic. Doctorow joined Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson and associate editor Alex Skopic to discuss his newest book, Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It.💩 Transcript: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/cory-doctorow💩 Get the book: https://craphound.com/shop/🦩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/

🌹 Sign up for our FREE newsletter, State of Affairs, and we’ll send a digital copy of The Silencing of Me straight to your inbox: https://www.currentaffairs.org/newsletter?hsCtaAttrib=199589517656PAPERBACK VERSION available in the Current Affairs store: https://shop.currentaffairs.org/collections/booksCurrent Affairs presents a new “anti-woke” manifesto by Dr. Peter B. Jordanson, a man who refuses to be canceled even when nobody is canceling him, and who dares to angrily speak up for Facts in an age of mushy Feelings. The book is called The Silencing of Me: How Feminism, Wokeness, DEI, Marxism, Transness, and Several Other Things Brought Western Civilization To Its Knees, Ruined My Marriage, and Made Me Late For Work. Today, editor in chief Nathan J. Robinson reads selected excerpts.Written by Nathan J. Robinson, with additional contributions by Devin Schiff, Stephen Prager, and Michael Lodato.0:00-17:15 Introduction17:15-27:24 How Things Used to Be27:24-36:17 Education as Child Abuse36:17-40:25 Guns: What Harm Have They Ever Done?40:25-44:50 The Left’s War on War44:50-53:00 How I Learned Everything About China53:00-59:29 A Culture’s Decline59:29-1:04:39 Everything Is Censored1:04:39-1:11:20 The "So-Called" Environment1:11:20-1:17:35 The Eclipse of Traditional Marriage1:17:35-1:39:04 Why Won’t They Stop Complaining?✨ Get the book: https://shop.currentaffairs.org/products/the-silencing-of-me🦩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 New York Times editorial board is wrong. Principled progressive politics on the Bernie Sanders model is still the path forward.🌹 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-case-for-centrism-does-not-hold-up🦩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/

This is how you run. This is how you win. This is the politics we need right now. Democratic socialist candidates can inspire people again, and fight the right effectively.🌹 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/follow-mamdanis-example🦩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 viral pistachio-filled candy bar is everywhere—but there’s nothing sweet about the United Arab Emirates and its human rights record. 🍫 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/dubai-chocolate-is-regime-propaganda 🦩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/ 

John Fugelsang, a comedian and political commentator, joins the discussion to unpack how Christian nationalism has distorted Jesus' teachings. He argues for a return to compassion and justice as essential to Christianity's survival. Fugelsang critiques the political misuse of scripture, exploring how fundamentalists twist biblical texts to support hate rather than love. He emphasizes the importance of understanding religious arguments, even for nonbelievers, to challenge distorted narratives and advocates for Jesus' radical ethics as a means to counter authoritarianism.

The podcast delves into the alarming rise of Nick Fuentes, a figure likened to Hitler for his manipulative tactics. Fuentes’ online influence grows as he openly praises extremist ideologies and promotes Holocaust denial. His calls for violence and a theocratic state reveal dangerous ambitions. The discussion highlights how mainstream platforms fail to adequately challenge such extremism, and it warns of political vacuums that allow such ideologies to thrive. Ultimately, it urges the necessity for a strong, compassionate left alternative to combat far-right ideologies.

David Sirota, founder of The Lever and renowned investigative journalist, dives deep into the troubling intertwining of corporate power and American politics. He discusses the historical roots of this corruption, tracing it from the Powell Memo to major Supreme Court cases like Citizens United. Sirota highlights the role of media and think tanks in perpetuating this status quo. He also shares his personal disillusionment with political compromises, urging for reforms like public financing to reclaim democracy from corporate interests.

Nika Soon-Shiong, founder of the Fund for Guaranteed Income, and Alanah Odoms, Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana, dive into the transformative potential of guaranteed income. They discuss their pilot project linking guaranteed income to reparations, addressing historical injustices rooted in slavery and mass incarceration in Louisiana. The conversation highlights how direct cash payments can alleviate poverty, improve public safety, and uplift communities. Personal stories from participants reveal the profound changes in mental health and community resilience.

The discussion critiques Ben Shapiro's binary worldview of 'lions' versus 'scavengers'. It explores the dangerous implications of his rhetoric, linking it to a rise in right-wing extremism and violence. The hosts dissect his superficial writing style and selective interpretations of influential thinkers like Adam Smith. They argue that his defense of meritocracy overlooks systemic inequality and fails to engage meaningfully with opposing views, ultimately deeming the work both pretentious and dangerously simplistic.