Dead Pundits Society

On this episode of the Parrot Room on Zero Squared, Adam and Doug talk about the "Post-Left," why the left needs therapy (Okay, Adam said that and I'm not sure Doug agrees) and much, much more. p.s. get therapy. Become a patron of DPS to hear the entirety of this episode: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits Support Zero Books here: www.patreon.com/zerobooks

Adam goes on Zero Squared Podcast, hosted by Doug Lain, to lay out his case for why Bernie Sanders was important to support and they end up talking a lot about some dusty, nerdy shit -- from Marx to the Second International to the New Deal and beyond. Support Zero Book Podcast here: www.patreon.com/zerobooks Become a supporter of DPS on patreon here: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits

Sam Gindin joins us to address recent claims about the death of neoliberalism in the wake of the latest turn to stimulus-based policies. Can it be? -- of course not... Gindin explains why. Become a patron of DPS to hear this ep in its entirety: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits

Joining us this week is James Schneider, former communication director for Jeremy Corbyn, cofounder of Momentum (UK), and current comms guy for Progressive International. He's here to discuss a new series out at Novara called "How We Win: A Socialist Strategy for the 2020s." Read the intro and find the rest of the essays here: https://novaramedia.com/2021/03/12/introducing-how-we-win-a-socialist-strategy-for-the-2020s/ --------------- Become a patron of DPS here: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits

On this week's patron-exclusive ep of DPS, we're joined by Ben Burgis. We talk about the state of the left in the Biden era, cancel culture, the psycho-emotional baggage of the left, and much much more. You all know about this book by now, but you should really buy it: https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/zer0-books/our-books/canceling-comedians-while-world-burns *** Join the Society to hear the full episode: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

After an extended intro by Adam, we're joined by Matt Karp who wrote a great essay a few months ago called "The Politics of a Second Gilded Age" (https://jacobinmag.com/2021/02/the-politics-of-a-second-gilded-age). Listen to this episode in its entirety by becoming a patron: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits

Brad Chester from DSA's Collective Power Networks joins us today to account for his crimes against the independent socialist movement -- jk, but a piece he published in Feb of 2021 dares to ask the question, "Does our obsession with an independent worker's party hurt the socialist movement today?" This question leads to a number of fascinating debates concerning electoral politics, socialist strategy, and so on. You can find his essay here: https://dsaorganizer.org/2021/02/09/breaking-bad-how-obsession-with-an-independent-workers-party-hurts-the-socialist-electoral-project/ *** Support this project of political education by becoming a patron: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Eric Blanc joins us to talk about a recent essay he wrote assessing the break that founded the UK Labour Party, of which there are tremendous resonances with the socialist movement in the U.S., today. ***Support this podcast by becoming a patron today: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Tune in for this wide-ranging and informative discussion. You can find the essay here: https://jacobinmag.com/2021/02/labour-party-uk-lessons-socialists Thanks, Patrons!

Adam Hilton is back on DPS to talk about his book on the Democratic Party. Also, we talk a lot about... you guessed it, the Democratic Party. *** Become a patron of DPS today: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Find his book here: https://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/16211.html

Micah Uetricht joins us to talk about Mike Davis's project and, accordingly, how his writings map on to some interesting rifts inside the socialist movement today. Find Micah's essay here: https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/mike-davis-old-gods-set-night/ *** Support this project of political education by becoming a patron today: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

This is part 2 of my Ed Rooksby Tribute. Enjoy. Jonah Wedekind put together this incredible bibliography of Ed's work: https://rooksbyism.wordpress.com/bibliography/ *** Become a patron to support this project of political education today: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Ed Rooksby passed away this weekend after a prolonged and public struggle with Long Covid. I've ventured yet another eulogy for a close friend of the show and re-aired an interview I conducted with him from a couple years ago. Please enjoy as s tribute to the incredible intellect of this man. He will be missed terribly. Part two will follow later this week. His blog can be found here: https://edrooksby.wordpress.com/ *** This show is able to function entirely due to support from listeners like you. Please help continue this project of democratic socialist education by subscribing here: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Max Shanly joins us to talk about the history of the Labour Party and how subsequent generations have produced the conditions that both allowed the Corbyn project to flourish and resulted in its demise. Many of these valuable lessons about party democracy are applicable to the US context as well, so listen up! ** Support this project by becoming a patron: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** The book under consideration is Leo Panitch and Colin Leys, Searching for Socialism: The Project of the Labour New Left from Benn to Corbyn (https://www.versobooks.com/books/3161-searching-for-socialism)

** This episode has been reposted, as an earlier version was truncated for some reason... ** Joining us today is Sam Gindin, who gives a master class on the origins of our modern capitalist system along the way of paying tribute to his late friend and mentor, Leo Panitch. "Still a Marxist After All" (2009) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ot4UgatUDE *** Support DPS and become a patron: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Steve Maher, assistant editor of The Socialist Register, joins us to talk about the life, work, and legacy of Leo Panitch. Check out the updated version of The Socialist Challenge Today, which was co-authored by Maher, as well as Sam Gindin and Leo Panitch: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1473-the-socialist-challenge-today *** Support this project by becoming a patron: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

this week's A-Side features a chat with Eric Levitz, staff writer at New York Magazine. We're discussing the "Force the Vote" controversy as outlined in his article, "The Left’s Most Naïve Cynics Have Turned on AOC" (https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/jimmy-dore-aoc-medicare-for-all-strategy.html) *** Support this podcast by becoming a patron: HTTP://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Elements inside the Democratic Party establishment raised a mutiny against AOC last week and we should probably talk about it... Joining us to do just that is Alex Samman, staff writer at The American Prospect. We break it down and try to suss out just what the hell is going on. ***Support this project by becoming a patron today: HTTP://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** See his article here: https://prospect.org/politics/establishment-strikes-back-aoc-versus-centrist-democrats/

I am utterly gutted by the recent passing of Leo Panitch, who was the editor of The Socialist Register and a mentor to so many people like me, so I did what odd-ball podcast hosts do and I turned to the mic to get out my feelings about his legacy and what he meant to me. After a 25-minute eulogy, I replay a B-Side chat that I did with Leo back in 2017. I tricked him into talking about his life by asking him questions about people who were near and dear to him, like Ralph Miliband, Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn, and so on. Rest well, Leo. And may the rest of us re-engage with his work and legacy. *** Support this socialist media project by becoming a patron today: HTTP://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Thomas Frank joins us to dig into the history of populism in the U.S. and tell us why it matters in today's political moment. *** Support DPS by becoming a patron today: HTTP://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Find out more about his book here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250220110

On this week's B-Side, we're joined by Moira and Conrad of DSA's Class Unity Caucus. We discuss its formation, the context that it came up in, as well as its goals in the coming years. *** Become a patron of DPS to unlock our entire back catalog of B-Sides and subscriber-only content: HTTP://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Find more info about Class Unity here: https://classunity.org/

Daniel Marans joins us to decipher the election results and talk about what this means for the US political scene going forward. We dish up some harsh realities and pull no punches along the way -- consider this the first of many in-depth looks at the political realignment that's underway in the United States, which is one that the left will either benefit from or be crushed by. *** Join the Dead Pundits Society to become a supporter of this program: HTTP://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

This week, we're joined by David Dayen, executive editor at American Prospect, to discuss the COVID situation along with what a Biden administration could do even without Democratic control over the Senate. Don't let these excuses and malarky re: his powerlessness fool you! *** Become a supporter of this podcast here: HTTP://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Find the Day One Agenda here: https://prospect.org/day-one-agenda The essays discussed in the opening can be found here: -https://prospect.org/day-one-agenda/make-progress-on-all-fronts-a-response-to-jacobin/ -https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/12/executive-orders-supreme-court-law-college-debt -https://jacobinmag.com/2020/11/biden-canceling-student-debt-loans-schumer/

Branko Marcetic, author of Yesterday's Man: The Case Against Joe Biden, joins us once again to talk about Trump the Loser, Joe the Enigma, Kamala the Cop, and what kind of clusterfuck progressives and socialists will be up against over the next four years. ***Join the DPS Patreon to support this podcast: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

This week, we're joined by Joe Guinan, VP at the Democracy Collaborative, to discuss the fate and the prospects of the Trans-Atlantic Left. Feeling adrift in the wake of thee Sanders and Corbyn moments? We've got your antidote (and you might even like it). *** Join the Dead Pundits Society to support this podcast and its efforts at socialist education: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

My good friend Nick Kiersey was kind enough to invite me onto his podcast, Fully Automated. Part 2 of our chat will be available for patrons of DPS, so be sure to support DPS on Patreon for full access: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ----------- Here is the original write-up: Hey everyone! Welcome to Episode 26 of Fully Automated… or, at least, Episode 26, Part One! This is a super long overdue episode with a guest I have wanted to have on the show for a long time: Adam Proctor, the host of Dead Pundit’s Society. Adam has been doing his show FULL TIME for the last four years, delivering not only on his commitment to evangelizing “socialism for ordinary ass’ed people” but to making an incredibly important (and often misunderstood) contribution to the critique of political economy. In Part One of this episode, we discuss Adam’s background, and the story behind the Dead Pundit’s Society. DPS emerged as part of the 2016 leftist podcast wave. Some I suppose would associate Adam with the “dirtbag left,” and shows like Chapo Trap House. But the story is more complicated than that. One of the interesting things about DPS is the niche it has always occupied, between audience accessibility and issues-driven programming, on the one hand, and a commitment to rigorous academic thought, on the other. There’s a certain public intellectual function to the show. So, in this episode, we discuss the role of the left intellectual. And the question of how to balance this sort of awkward relationship, of being neither an entertainer nor an academic, but something in between. DPS covers a wide range of themes — everything from state theory through race essentialism. These are less controversial topics today, perhaps, but in 2016 Adam was taking huge risks by trying to mainstream them among an American left that was still largely committed to horizontalist or “occupy” style ideals. Four years into this project, it is clear that DPS has played a major role in articulating these ideas to a wider audience that one might have imagined possible, back in 2016. In Part One, you’ll hear us address the early days of the show, and Adam’s notorious attempts to take on freedom of speech issues, cancel culture, and race essentialism. We also talk socialist strategy, and the application of work by Sam Ginden and Leo Pantich to the Grexit question. And as if these takes weren’t controversial enough, wait ’til you see what we get into in Part Two! (Coming later this week). [Source: https://www.occupyirtheory.info/2020/10/20/episode-26-rise-of-the-dead-pundit-with-adam-proctor-part-i/?fbclid=IwAR2IFq402_y8vwADBvq_pRhTQYZNfRFITRwGFHILX0GuGVSiULxxtAW8zlI]

This week the gang is joined by Jared Abbott to talk about his latest Jacobin essay titled, "The Two Paths of Democratic Socialism: Coalition and Confrontation," which attempts to lay out the progressive vs. democratic socialist debate regarding the capture of political power. Should progressives (and the left) engage in coalition with mainstream Democratic Party coalitions, or should they be more adversarial and confrontational regarding these coalitions? *** Become a patron of DPS to hear the entirety of this episode: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Find the essay here: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/08/the-two-paths-of-democratic-socialism-coalition-and-confrontation

The gang is joined by Christian Parenti, who talks about the birth of actually-existing capitalism narrated in his latest book, Radical Hamilton. We open by discussing a series of new cancellations and why this moralistic approach to politics lets institutions and the powerful off the hook. Next, we're joined by Christian who makes a spirited case for revisiting the Developmentalist model of Hamilton's "American School." *** Become a patron to hear the remainder of this interview: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Find out more about this book here: https://www.versobooks.com/books/3186-radical-hamilton

The Good Doctor Reed joins us to finish off Episode 1 of our new Black Political Thought Series. We hone in on his debate with fellow Marxist, Ellen Meiksins Wood, re: the role of race in capitalism and what it means to develop a historical materialist account of race and class. *** Become a patron to hear the entirety of this episode: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Once again, you can find that debate linked here: https://advancethestruggle.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/how-does-race-relate-to-class-a-debate/

Welcome to Episode 1 of our new "Black Political Thought" Series! The Good Doctor Reed is back on DPS to talk current events, the idea of "race as caste," and, finally, to discuss a very important debate around crafting an historical materialist account of race an class. Slight change of pace: ** The B-Side will land for patrons tomorrow -- catch it by becoming a patron at: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ** Find the Reed/Wood debate here: https://advancethestruggle.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/how-does-race-relate-to-class-a-debate/ Follow DPS on social media: www.twitter.com/deadpundits

We've got a packed cast of characters today to discuss the latest assault on the Post Office and what that means for the socialist and trade union movements, along with sharing with some amazing labor history and organizing advice. First up, the gang is joined by Paul Prescod to discuss the Post Office and its role in furthering the mission of racial justice. Next up, we've got UE General President, Carl Rosen, to talk about the proud and militant history of United Electrical and its latest efforts to build and radicalize the labor movement. See "Them and Us Unionism" pamphlet here: https://www.ueunion.org/ThemAndUs/ To hear the entirety of this amazing interview with Carl Rosen, join the Dead Pundits Society today: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits

This week, Adam and Ben are joined by Shawn Gude, editor-extraordinaire at Jacobin Magazine, to talk about the legacies of Michael Harrington and Eugene Debs and how some former DSA members are transforming them into the shape of Elizabeth Warren. *** Join the Dead Pundits Society to hear the entirety of this episode: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Jo-Ann Mort's essay can be found here: https://democracyjournal.org/arguments/unlike-mike/

This subscriber-only episode has been unlocked due to the strong endorsement of our patrons. It's too important to stay behind a paywall, folks! Join the Dead Pundit Society to support this project and get access to exclusive weekly episodes like this one: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits The squad is joined by Dustin Guastella, who is an organizer for the Teamsters, a member of Philly DSA, a frequent contributor to Jacobin Magazine, and owner of the best mustache on the socialist left. We discuss the post-Bernie moment and address the most pressing demands facing the socialist left in 2020 and beyond.

The squad is joined by Dustin Guastella, who is an organizer for the Teamsters, a member of Philly DSA, a frequent contributor to Jacobin Magazine, and owner of the best mustache on the socialist left. We discuss the post-Bernie moment and address the most pressing demands facing the socialist left in 2020 and beyond. *** To hear the entirety of this B-Side, become a patron of DPS today: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Adam and Ben introduce a new co-host. The squad riffs on Bill Clinton's time on the "Lolita Express," assess the new "mask off" Democratic Party mainstream (unity, be damned), and top it off with a chat about teacher's strike action getting the goods. *** Become a patron of DPS to access the B-Side convsersation with Dustin Guastella (it's good, folks): http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Adam and Ben talk about the buffoonish attempt to resuscitate race science among the woke liberal elite and much more. *** Become a patron for full access: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Adam and Ben move beyond eulogy and talk about the critical takeaways of Michael's approach to communicating socialist politics. *** Become a member of the Dead Pundits Society to support this political project and receive access to our weekly B-Sides: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** We open with a clip from his Mill Series Lecture at Lafayette College: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCWtjzKGQ90 The clip at the end is from an event will Dr. Cornell West for the Harvard School of Education Centennial Celebrations in early 2020. Ben's eulogy can be found here: https://jacobinmag.com/2020/07/michael-brooks-tmbs

Adam says some words about what Michael Brooks means to the DPS family. Love you all and be good to each other. *** Become a member of the Dead Pundits Society to support this political project and get access to weekly subscriber-only episodes: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Adam and Ben chew on some of the toughest questions facing the left in the summer of 2020 with style, class, and a whole lotta sass. Thanks for tuning into DPS, now airing exclusively on the WB in 1999. -Join the DPS Patreon today for access to this week's B-Side: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits Harper's article: https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/ ------------ Follow DPS on social media: http://www.twitter.com/deadpundits

Adam is sick this week so we're unlocking last week's B-side for the masses. In the first half of this 2.5 hour behemoth of an episode, Adam and Ben discuss Matt Taibbi's cancellation. On the second half, they're joined by Matt Christman of the Chapo Trap Houses, who advises everyone to log off. Log off, everyone.

On this week's A-side, Adam and Ben pray for a benevolent apocalypse and muse on the latest liberal moral panic and how socialists should respond to the endless stream of culture warrior nonsense. Join the DPS Patreon for access to weekly B-Sides: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits -------------------- Follow us on social media: http://www.twitter.com/deadpundits

Ben and Adam chop it up about the reaction of establishment Democrats to the latest rounds of racial unrest. In the second half, they're joined by Cedric Johnson who lays out a masterclass for thinking about how to conceptualize BLM, police violence, and transformative politics. *** Support DPS and receive access to weekly subscriber-only episodes: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** -Check out Cedric's article written based on this episode's discussion: "The Triumph of Black Lives Matter and Neoliberal Redemption," https://nonsite.org/editorial/the-triumph-of-black-lives-matter-and-neoliberal-redemption

David Griscom, producer and contributor from The Michael Brooks Show, joins us to talk about the economic aspects of the current crisis and outline where we might see the next upticks in struggle. *** Patrons of DPS get access to our weekly B-Sides. Become a member today for access: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** ------------------------ Follow DPS on social media: -http://www.twitter.com/deadpundits -http://www.facebook.com/deadpunditssociety

Adam and Ben discuss the pathetic state of the liberal political class and then move on to a lengthy discussion on antifa, free speech, and socialist strategy. *** Become a member of DPS to access this entire B-Side: http://www.patreon.com.deadpundits *** -------------------- Follow DPS on social media: http://www.twitter.com/deadpundits

Briana Last of Philly DSA and author of a recent piece assessing the state of DSA in the post-Bernie moment joins us to discuss these topics and more. Find the article here: https://www.thebellows.org/the-dsa-after-bernie-at-a-crossroads/ **** DPS needs your support to continue its efforts of political analysis and education. Become a patron today and receive access to weekly subscriber-only episodes: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** ------------------ Follow DPS on social media: -http://www.twitter.com/deadpundits

On this week's B-Side, Adam and Ben discuss totally non-controversial topics. *** Join the Dead Pundits Society and support the new left agenda to receive access to this B-Side along with many other weekly subscriber exclusives: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Find Briana Last's "Wither the DSA" here: https://www.thebellows.org/the-dsa-after-bernie-at-a-crossroads/

On this week's DPS, Adam and Ben discuss the libertarian hellscape crafted by the ruling class during the COVID crisis and then interview Chris Brooks from Labor Notes about the COVID slaughterhouse that state governments have planned for workers returning to the job and what we might do to prevent it. *** Support this media project by becoming a patron of DPS: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** -"We Shouldn’t Need GoFundMe to Respond to Catastrophes. We Need a Strong Welfare State." https://jacobinmag.com/2020/05/gofundme-crowdfunding-coronavirus-covid-cancer-treatment/ -"The Hammer and the Dance: Why Reopening Now Will Kill," https://labornotes.org/2020/05/hammer-and-dance-why-reopening-now-will-kill ------------------- Follow DPS on social media: http://www.twitter.com/deadpundits

Adam and Ben take it to the B-Side and discuss the need for clear-eyed critique and optimism in equal measure, they discuss Ben's recent run-in with the liberal commentariat, and, finally, they end with some scotch-induced musings on the future of a socialist left worthy of its name. ***Become a patron of DPS for full access to this B-Side as well as the entire back catalog of subscriber-exclusive content: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** -The full Michael Albert clip can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2224&v=By4DOwLODXo&feature=emb_title

Season Four of DPS is upon us. And this time -- it's for real. Our new mystery co-host is introduced as we chat about cancel culture and building a left that can win in the post-Bernie era. THE AGE OF AQUARIUS IS UPON US! *** Become a patron of DPS to support the new left agenda and receive access to weekly B-Sides and other subscriber-exclusive content: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** --------------------------- Follow DPS on social media: http://www.twitter.com/deadpundits

Sam Gindin joins us to talk about the post-Bernie and post-Sanders world in addition to an article on the COVID-19 crisis that recently appeared in The Bullet titled, "The Corona Virus and the Crisis This Time." *** Become a patron today to support the new left agenda and receive access to the weekly B-Sides and other subscriber-exclusive content: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Find the article here: https://socialistproject.ca/2020/04/coronavirus-and-the-crisis-this-time/ ---------------- Follow DPS on social media: http://www.twitter.com/deadpundits

On this week's "In Case You Missed It," Connor Kilpatrick gives a post-mortem of the Bernie campaign for Philly DSA's virtual education series. *** If you enjoy this week's ICYMI, consider becoming a patron of DPS so that you'll receive a B-Side and/or an ICYMI each week: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Check out the original video on Philly DSA's YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEL0iFqjVxM

Touré Reed joins us for a discussion about the state of racial liberalism in the U.S. His new book is titled Toward Freedom: The Case Against Race Reductionism, and it's classic DPS anti-essentialism, folks. *** DPS needs your support! Become a patron and receive weekly subscriber content as a reward: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** Find it here: https://www.versobooks.com/books/3166-toward-freedom ------------- Follow DPS on social media: http://www.twitter.com/deadpundits