Current Affairs

Will Sloan, a film critic and author of Ed Wood: Made in Hollywood USA, challenges the stigma surrounding Ed Wood as "the worst director." He explores the director's queer identity and its significance in cinema history, particularly in Glen or Glenda. Sloan delves into the artistic ingenuity behind Wood's low-budget films, advocating for imagination over conventional quality standards. They discuss Hollywood's capitalist pressures on artists like Wood and Welles, and how this led to a unique, albeit tragic, legacy, forever reshaping views on outsider art.

The U.S. overthrow of Nicolás Maduro raises serious questions about international sovereignty. The discussion tackles legal violations, including the UN Charter, and critiques the dangerous precedent set by unilateral actions. There’s a deep dive into the hypocrisy of political reactions, especially from Democrats. The motivations behind the coup are challenged, exposing potential oil interests. The implications for global governance and a call for accountability resonate with urgency, shedding light on a troubling trend in U.S. foreign policy.

In the fall of 2024, Zohran Mamdani was a long-shot challenger taking on New York City’s political establishment. Today, he’s the mayor. In this early interview with Current Affairs, recorded shortly after he announced his campaign, Mamdani lays out his vision for transforming the city.🦩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 Sanbonmatsu, a philosophy professor and author of The Omnivore’s Deception, challenges the ethical implications of meat consumption. He argues that no form of killing animals can be deemed humane and compares this practice to political domination. Sanbonmatsu critiques the narratives surrounding 'humane' meat by highlighting self-deception and moral evasion. He also discusses the inadequacy of lab-grown meat solutions and connects animal rights to broader societal moral crises, advocating for a more compassionate and abolitionist approach.

Joshua Cohen, a political theorist and writer of the insightful Ettingermentum Substack, joins to dissect the recent government shutdown and its implications for Democrats. He reveals how the shutdown highlighted the party's reliance on centrist punditry and lack of long-term strategies. They discuss the Democrats' shift towards healthcare messaging, the consequences of following media advice, and the need for new leadership. Cohen argues that embracing left-leaning, pragmatic policies could resonate better with voters, especially on immigration and foreign policy.

Medea Benjamin is an anti-war activist and one of the co-founders of CODEPINK: Women for Peace. She’s spent decades fighting the American military-industrial complex, organizing protests against the invasion of Iraq in the early 2000s and interrupting speeches by both Barack Obama and Donald Trump. She’s also the co-author, with David Swanson, of NATO: What You Need to Know. She joined Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson to discuss the ongoing push for war, from the Middle East to Venezuela, and how ordinary people can organize and stand against it.🌸 CODEPINK: https://www.codepink.org/🌸 Medea's Twitter: https://x.com/medeabenjamin🌸 Medea's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medea.benjamin0:00-11:16 Why Disruptive Protest Works11:16-14:23 Overcoming the Fear of Public Confrontation14:23-18:36 Making the Human Cost of War Visible18:36-22:52 The Rise and Limits of Today’s Antiwar Movement22:52-25:49 The Myth of Trump as an “Anti-War” President25:49-31:53 NATO’s Role in the Ukraine War31:53-34:54 Is There a Real Anti-War Right?34:54-37:56 Why Democrats Lag Public Anti-War Opinion37:56-40:16 What Keeps People Fighting Back40:16-47:33 Why Americans Must Confront Their Own Government’s Crimes🦩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/

How can someone so delusional attract an audience of millions? What does it say about us that Owens is listened to by anyone other than a psychiatrist?🧿 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/candace-owens-and-the-decay-of-the-american-brain🦩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/

Right-wing megadonors flew mayors to an all-expenses-paid summit in New Orleans, where they pushed a policy framework that codified mainstream criticism of Israel as “antisemitic.”📰 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/a-dark-money-network-is-recruiting-u.s.-mayors-to-criminalize-pro-palestine-speech🦩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/

Nina Turner is a former Ohio State Senator, national co-chair of Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, and one of the most forceful advocates for working-class politics in the United States. She’s a longtime champion of economic justice and a leading voice in movements for peace and social uplift, including the new Up in Arms campaign challenging the power of the military-industrial complex. Turner joined Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson to discuss why the Democratic Party keeps failing to meet the needs of ordinary people, why insurgent primary challenges are essential to democracy, and how redirecting our vast military spending could transform the lives of millions.🔥 Nina's Twitter: https://x.com/ninaturner🔥 Nina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninaturnerohio/🔥 Up In Arms Campaign: https://upinarms.life/0:00–11:33 The Democratic Party's Failures11:33–14:57 How Harris Squandered Her Campaign14:57–21:33 Should the Left Primary Hakeem Jeffries?21:33–28:49 Mamdani’s Affordability Blueprint28:49–39:33 The Up in Arms Campaign🦩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/

Anthony Fantano is the biggest music critic on YouTube, and the self-described “internet’s busiest music nerd.” The New York Times calls him “The Only Music Critic Who Matters (if You’re Under 25),” and his show The Needle Drop has over 3 million subscribers. Fantano is known for his provocative takes, like “AI Music is Evil” and “Taylor Swift is a Coward.” He joined Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson and associate editor Alex Skopic to talk about the state of the music industry, how streaming platforms exploit artists, and whether Zohran Mamdani should rap again.🎹 The Needle Drop: https://www.youtube.com/theneedledrop🎹 Fantano: https://www.youtube.com/@fantano0:00–7:28 What Right Do Critics Have to Judge Music?7:28–10:34 AI Music and How It Uses Artists’ Work10:34–17:13 Why So Much Music in 2025 Feels “Mid”17:13–23:58 Have Music Critics Become Too Nice?23:58–32:29 Censorship, Algorithms, and Political Lyrics32:29–37:13 Paying Artists Fairly and Why They Should Unionize37:13–40:39 Zohran Mamdani’s Rap Career40:39–44:53 Underrated Artists Fantano Recommends🦩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/