Club Manifesto

Bin Laden's got some bad press over the years -- but we just call balls and strikes on this one. There's a Luigi Mangione tie-in and a spirited debate about killing people. One for the ages.

We put it off as long as we could. Happy Election Day.

Self-described investigative researcher Max Azzarello lit himself on fire on April 20th outside a Manhattan courthouse where jury selection was taking place in the criminal trial of Donald Trump. On the same day, Azzarello published a manifesto warning of a forthcoming "apocalyptic fascist world coup.” We discuss his various theories, learn about his assault on Bill Clinton's autograph, and demonstrate we know nothing about Bitcoin. Send comments and critiques to clubmanifesto420@gmail.com.

A pro-nuclear nonprofit says there's a plausible strategy to separate the fate of humanity from the ecological health of the planet. Bullshit? Or...vaguely intoxicating bullshit? Sos and Joe discuss billionaire Buddhists and bicker about pronunciations. Another groundbreaking edition of Two Truths and A Lie. Questions and comments to clubmanifesto420@gmail.com.

Venture capitalist billionaire ding-a-ling Marc Andreessen argues technology is making everything better. If the quality of his manifesto is any indication, he's wrong. We talk some shit, introduce a new segment, and have a good time with our guest, Nate. Send comments and jokes to clubmanifesto420@gmail.com

Chomsky has arguably written dozens of what one might call manifestos, but this was the first that was a big success. He rakes his own ilk (American intellectuals) over the coals in a style that is uniquely his own. We laugh about it, then get depressed for a while, then laugh again. Listen closely for repeated references to "Stormin' Norman." Questions and comments to clubmanifesto420@gmail.com.

After more than an hour of drinking and rambling about prison, which can be heard in Part 1, we finally get to the manifesto, plus more drinking. And, of course, another Dumbass's Advocate (lotta dumbass in this one!). Send your kindest thoughts to clubmanifesto420@gmail.com.

Jailhouse lawyer and prisoner rights litigant Martin Sostre predicted a world where a group of politically conscious prisoners would lead a revolutionary armed struggle to overthrow the racist and capitalist order in the United States. A law review published his vision in 1973, and prison abolitionists are still distributing the article today. This episode includes the first half of our discussion about Sostre and his manifesto. Part 2 goes up next week.

Manifesto author and Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz was a pioneering tech dude whose vision extended beyond "disrupting" and cashing in; ultimately, he put his well being on the line in a direct effort to impose a radical version of open access on the world of published scientific research. John joins us to shoot the shit about Swartz, the federal criminal case that enveloped his final years, and Barbara Walters. For questions or comments, shoot us an email at clubmanifesto420@gmail.com.

We look on starry-eyed as fabled leftist intellectual and manifesto co-author Harriet Fraad discusses why she helped compose a document in 2008 aimed at reversing the decades-long decline in working class power in the United States. Basically, the Manifest-Bros have a Zoom meeting with their personal hero. Besides capitalism, we talk about psychoanalysis, McCarthy-era hootenannies, and Dr. Fraad's youthful efforts to scare off the feds with tampons. You can find more of Dr. Fraad's work at Democracy at Work and listen to her talk about how capitalism affects our personal lives on her podcast, Capitalism Hits Home with Dr. Harriet Fraad. And, of course, questions or comments for your Club Manifesto hosts may be directed to clubmanifesto420@gmail.com.

Hypnotherapist and mental health counselor Harriet Fraad joined a handful of other NYC leftists in 2008 to warn that Obama offered no hope for a real Left resurgence and that a reversal of the decades-long rightward trend in the U.S. would require a radical new project.

Before he was a treasured mouthpiece for the New Right, Curtis Yarvin (aka Mencius Moldbug) maintained a blog in which he expressed his burning desire to be ruled by a king. Dude's a real shithead, but we have a good time with it.

The magazine Anything That Moves used a manifesto to establish contours around the word, bisexual. We are joined by a devoted student of the dictionary, Sarah, to sort out what they meant. At the end we tell a joke in our new segment, "Final Joke."

In 1986, Loyd Blankenship wrote that his "crime" was that of "outsmarting you, something that you will never forgive me for." We forgive him, proving he's the real dumbass. Erik joins us.

A confidential report distributed within one of the world's largest "charitable" foundations describes a half-billion-dollar plan to undermine traditional public education. We discuss the efficacy of yelling at babies.

Architects of the world's first Rainbow Gathering invited all people everywhere to a non-hierarchical utopia with no money, no violence, and freely accessible drugs. Fifty years later, we reply "maybe."

Two “himbos” and a “bimbo” unshackle themselves from self-awareness.

The musings of black metal musician and murderer Varg Vikernes inspire a new podcast segment, Dumbass's Advocate. We are joined by our second guest, Jon.

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask and he'll tell you the truth.” - Oscar Wilde, on furries.

Valerie Solanas wants us dead. Can't blame her.

We talk computers, intellectual property as theft, anti-vax conspiracy vids, and the murky origins of Club Manifesto with our first guest, Artur.

Christopher Dorner spits truth about cops, personal pride, and Shark Week.

Swimmin' in the deep end. Big Ted.

From tobacco industry lawyer to Supreme Court justice to author of an influential Chamber of Commerce memo, Lewis Powell was a real piece of shit.