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A podcast about music, and politics as told by musicians who sing about politics
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7 hours ago
7 hours ago
The first week of the NFL season is officially in the books, and what’s clear is that the lack of preseason action—paired with concerns about key starters getting injured—has led to many coaches holding back, leaving some crucial players without valuable playing time. The rookie starters, in particular, looked quite pedestrian against experienced NFL defenses. As for the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes and company still look like the best team in the league. But after them, who takes the number two spot?
The San Francisco 49ers faced a significant setback, missing key offensive players, including Christian McCaffrey, the most drafted player in fantasy football, due to a calf injury. Meanwhile, the New York Jets didn’t seem to improve much with Aaron Rodgers under center, struggling just as they did with Zach Wilson last season. Their defense couldn’t contain the 49ers' ground game, and their backup RB had a career-high in rushing yards.
In Minnesota, will Sam Darnold finally live up to his first-round potential? If he does, the Vikings may find themselves in a tricky situation with a project quarterback unable to even practice this season, should they sneak into the playoffs.
On the college football front, Notre Dame suffered a shocking loss to NIU—does this spell the end for head coach Marcus Freeman? Meanwhile, Brian Kelly will have to regroup after LSU's upset loss to USC. Can he rebuild the team into a powerhouse? Is Texas the best team in the country? And is Nebraska back on the rise with their freshman QB sensation?
We’ll discuss all this and more in today’s show!
3 days ago
3 days ago
Introduction:
The NFL season is kicked off this Thursday, and there’s plenty to be excited about. This year, we’re witnessing history with 15 Black quarterbacks starting, signaling a shift in the league’s dynamics. But the big question on everyone’s mind is whether C.J. Stroud will continue his remarkable trajectory from a standout rookie season or fall victim to the dreaded sophomore slump. Meanwhile, Bryce Young, another first-round pick, is looking for improvement, and all eyes are on Caleb Williams, who impressed during the preseason. Williams has the monumental task of playing quarterback in Chicago, a city that has long struggled to find a true franchise QB. Could he be the one to change that narrative?
Over in Denver, the post-Peyton Manning era has been challenging, but there’s hope that Bo Nix might finally fill that void. On the college football front, the discussion around the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) money is heating up. These changes are fundamentally altering the game, and some coaches, like Dabo Swinney of Clemson, might be stuck in the past, as evidenced by Clemson’s recent loss to Georgia. The portal provides opportunities for seasoned players from smaller schools to shine at bigger programs, but it also presents a dilemma: should athletes stay at a small school where they’re guaranteed playing time, or take a gamble on a bigger stage?
Cam Ward’s journey has been emblematic of this new era. While Miami’s win over the Florida Gators was convincing, questions remain about Ward’s development. Despite making plays, his size and consistency in hitting receivers in stride remain concerns. And then there’s Deion Sanders, perhaps the most talked-about 4-8 coach in history. Sanders has struggled to develop talent outside of his family, yet his son Shedeur Sanders continues to dazzle, showing why he might be the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Travis Hunter is making a case as the best player in college football, though Arizona’s Teteriora McMillan, with his jaw-dropping 304 yards and 4 TD performance against New Mexico, might be the most NFL-ready wide receiver since Randy Moss.
The USC vs. LSU game was undoubtedly the highlight of the week, but not everyone got to see it, thanks to the ongoing battles in the streaming wars. From the Olympics to Disney’s power move over DirecTV, the landscape of sports broadcasting is more fragmented than ever, causing frustration for fans.
There’s a lot to unpack, and as always, we’ll find time to be ridiculous along the way. Let’s dive in!
4 days ago
4 days ago
Jason goes off on his disdain for hotdogs, we watch the Tyreek Hill police bodycam footage and then it really gets weird! Enjoy.
4 days ago
4 days ago
Read Dustin's article in Damage magazine here: https://damagemag.com/2024/04/15/making-the-present-the-enemy-of-the-future/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFOHOBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHaY-t0tK8-MNrkDldt2468CK0SMMTGww2zPcQOq5VwYqdrE8z0nYif5WxQ_aem_OHeGIKGuPW6a-WH-lcdo3g
Is Harm Reduction Enough?
Introduction
- In his latest piece for *Damage Magazine,* Dustin Guastella tackles the growing opioid crisis in America’s deindustrialized city centers, critiquing the widely accepted harm-reduction model. His article, "Making the Present the Enemy of the Future," argues that current policies, while positioned as compassionate solutions, fail to address the deeper social causes of addiction and poverty. As he states, *“we repackage the preservation of bare life as progress,”* pushing aside the social question that’s driving people into drug-induced misery.
Tonight we’ll ask the question, “Is the harm reduction model enough?”
5 days ago
5 days ago
Read Alex and Milena's essay here: https://alexherbert.substack.com/
Introduction:
In the latest two-part essay from Alexander Herbert's Substack, he collaborates with Milena Steinmetzer to delve into the complexities of the "Women Question." The essay seeks to differentiate between liberal feminism, which has become somewhat orthodox in the United States, and Marxist or materialist feminism. As Herbert and Steinmetzer argue, the distinction is crucial for understanding the broader struggle for women's liberation within a class-based framework.
In Part 1 of the essay, they write: "As socialist activists and theorists, we’ve often found ourselves in situations where our friends and ‘allies’ question our feminist credentials or the type of liberation we seek for women. Part of the reason stems from a failure to understand the difference between liberalism and leftism (particularly in the United States, where the former president purposefully conflates the two). Even within ‘leftism,’ anarchism and progressivism advocate a type of feminist theory devoid of real class analysis that is more in line with liberal individualism than socialist collectivism. Another reason for the misunderstanding is the simple fact that liberal feminism benefits from being the oldest tradition, as the struggle for things like suffrage, equal pay, and equal rights aspire to equalize the sexes within a system that depends on individualist ideology. The assumption has been that 'womanhood' alone constitutes a 'community,' even though most people are willing to admit that the economic interests of women in the 1% are vastly different than those in the 99%."
This essay comes at a crucial time, especially as we approach the November presidential election, where identity politics will be on full display with Kamala Harris challenging Donald Trump. The discussion of feminist theory is more relevant than ever, especially when considering figures like Sheryl Sandberg, whose "lean in" feminism epitomizes the liberal model that Herbert and Steinmetzer critique.
6 days ago
6 days ago
Lula da Silva's return to office in Brazil marks a critical attempt to undo the conservative rollback of his party's previous progressive reforms. Under Michel Temer and Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil saw an erosion of social programs, environmental protections, and Indigenous rights that the Workers' Party (PT) had championed in the 2000s. Lula’s reinstatement of programs like *Bolsa Família*, designed to address food insecurity for over 33 million Brazilians, and his commitment to halting environmental destruction in the Amazon are core components of his platform. However, the Brazil Lula governs today is far different than the one he left in 2010.
The ideological landscape, both domestically and globally, has shifted dramatically. After Dilma Rousseff's ouster, Brazil became more polarized, with Bolsonaro's right-wing populism galvanizing large swaths of the electorate through nationalist and anti-left rhetoric. This new political environment reflects broader global trends: a backlash against what is often derisively called "wokeness" or "globalism." Right-wing populists, sovereigntists, and national-conservatives have risen in opposition to the neoliberal policies of the past few decades, creating a more fractured political order.
Our guest today, Alex, argues that this shift mirrors larger geopolitical tensions that he terms the "new Cold War." In an upcoming essay, he draws upon thinkers like Frederic Jameson and Slavoj Žižek to examine how these cultural and ideological battles are unfolding. As Alex writes:
"A succession of 'cultural logics' have been identified since Frederic Jameson first wrote about postmodernism as the logic of late capitalism in 1984. In 1997, Slavoj Žižek discoursed about multiculturalism as the cultural logic of multinational capitalism. And if you were so inclined, you could write essays arguing that the past decade has seen wokeness emerge as the cultural logic of late neoliberalism."
This notion of "wokeness" — encompassing progressive values, neoliberal economics, and the curtailment of freedoms by corporate and political interests — serves as the ideological backdrop for much of today's political polarization. Alex posits that unlike the original Cold War, which was a genuine ideological clash between capitalism and socialism, this "new Cold War" is less about systems of governance and more about capitalist competition dressed in thin ideological coatings. Whether framed as "authoritarianism versus democracy" or "stability versus chaos," the deeper struggle appears to be between nationalist forces that reject the perceived excesses of globalization and neoliberalism, and a fragmented liberal order grappling with its own contradictions.
In Brazil, Lula faces these challenges head-on. His efforts to restore progressive policies and repair the damage done by Bolsonaro are emblematic of a broader struggle against right-wing populism and anti-globalist sentiment. How Lula navigates this new political terrain will be a crucial test of whether left-wing governance can effectively counter the growing influence of right-populism and restore faith in a more egalitarian, internationalist approach to governance.
We discuss Lula da Silva's return to office in Brazil as part of a broader global context where progressive reforms face significant pushback and political landscapes have shifted.
7 days ago
7 days ago
READ ROB'S BOOK HERE: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2215-mastering-the-universe
Mastering the Universe
Introduction:
When we think of "Masters of the Universe," we may be reminded of He-Man, with his mighty sword, standing guard at Castle Grayskull against Skeletor and his monstrous allies. But in Professor Rob Larson's latest book, "Masters of the Universe: The Obscene Wealth of the Ruling Class, What They Do with Their Money, and Why You Should Hate Them Even More," There are no animated heroes or villains. Instead, Larson presents us with the all-too-real battle between the 1% and the rest of the world, where the obscene wealth of the elite continues to grow unchecked, resulting in deepening inequality, environmental devastation, and an entrenchment of power that threatens democracy itself.
The title may sound exaggerated, but Larson methodically explains how the ruling class wields unimaginable wealth, shaping global economic, political, and environmental outcomes in their favor. As Larson writes, "The system isn’t broken—it’s rigged. For the wealthy, inequality isn’t a bug in the system; it’s the feature." Since the Occupy movement brought the 1% into the national consciousness, this elite class has only fortified its hold over our institutions, exploiting crises like the COVID-19 pandemic to increase their fortunes even further.
Today, we'll delve into the moral, economic, and environmental obscenities of extreme wealth with Rob Larson, exploring how the elites use their fortunes to maintain power and destroy the planet. We’ll also examine what, if anything, can be done to dismantle this concentrated power before it’s too late.
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Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Thursday Sep 05, 2024
We take some calls and go over MORE of the movies of 1989. So many releases!!!
Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Introduction:
When my good friend and fellow podcaster and radio host Kenzo Shibata hit me up and told me that he felt 1989 was the greatest year in film history, I thought that was a bold claim. Sure, I knew the original Michael Keaton *Batman* hit theaters that year, but beyond that, the details were a bit fuzzy. For many of us, especially those who came of age during the rise of home video, the lines between what was in theaters, what went straight to video, and what aired on cable often blur together. 1989 was a pivotal year—a moment when the cinematic landscape was rapidly changing, and the home video market was beginning to dominate how we consumed movies.
The year 1989 revitalized the superhero genre with Batman, saw Patrick Swayze transition from Dirty Dancing to playing the zen-like badass Dalton in Roadhouse, and introduced us to A-list actor Brad Pitt in the indie slasher Cutting Class. Christian Slater stepped into the spotlight as a teenage skateboarding detective in Gleaming the Cube, while Wes Craven tried to franchise another horror icon with Shocker.
Horror and comedy were in full swing that year, with Weekend at Bernie's giving us everyone's favorite dead uncle, and Disney making waves with The Little Mermaid. Robin Williams showcased his dramatic range in Dead Poets Society, while Denzel Washington delivered one of his most iconic scenes in Glory. Many believe that Spike Lee made a powerful statement with Do the Right Thing (I’m still trying to figure out what that “statement” is?), and James Spader broke away from his typical high school villain roles in Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Not to mention, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg brought us the third installment of the Indiana Jones franchise. And that's just scratching the surface!
So, grab your popcorn, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! We’ll be diving deep into the films of 1989, exploring every genre, every standout performance, and every iconic scene. And don’t forget—we’ll be opening up the phone lines in the Champagne Room for you to chime in with your thoughts. What films did we miss? What’s your favorite from this era?
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Introduction:
The political landscape in the United States has shifted dramatically over the past few years. The ascension of Donald Trump, propelled by a wave of racial animus, faux populism, and a fierce rejection of identity politics, seemed to signal the end of the liberal racial identitarianism that flourished during the Obama years. However, the Democratic Party's recent announcement that Vice President Kamala Harris will be their nominee to face Trump in the upcoming election suggests that identity politics may still play a pivotal role in American politics.
Kamala Harris, the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, has long embraced both sides of her heritage. Yet, her identity has been a focal point of political attacks, with Trump recently attempting to question her Blackness in a room full of Black reporters—a move that backfired, eliciting boos from the audience. As the Democratic Party once again leans on the "I'm With Her" slogan, reminiscent of Hillary Clinton's campaign, the question arises: Will Harris's identity galvanize the African American intelligentsia, particularly in a post-George Floyd America where the chattering class has been notably quiet?
This episode of THIS IS REVOLUTION>podcast will delve into how the African American intelligentsia might react to a potential Kamala Harris presidency. Will they see her as a beacon of progress, despite her past role in the tough-on-crime policies of the 1990s, or will they reject her as another establishment figure out of touch with the needs of the Black community?