Jacobin Radio

Follow Jacobin Radio
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Podcasts from Jacobin magazine,

Jacobin magazine


    • Oct 2, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 311h 33m AVG DURATION
    • 1,930 EPISODES

    4.7 from 1,281 ratings Listeners of Jacobin Radio that love the show mention: jacobin, daniel denvir, behind the news, id pol, levelheaded, chumps, leftist perspective, suzi, uneven, publication, socialist, organize, resistance, academics, socialism, capitalism, magazine, joshua, radical, dig.


    Ivy Insights

    The Jacobin Radio podcast is an incredibly well-produced and researched political podcast that offers a refreshing perspective on current events and social issues. The variety of different political podcasts within the feed provides listeners with a diverse range of viewpoints and analysis. The guests on the show are insightful, knowledgeable, and thought-provoking, offering valuable analysis on contemporary issues. This podcast is a must-listen for those who are dissatisfied with mainstream media tropes and capitalist exploitation.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is its ability to challenge mainstream narratives and offer alternative perspectives. The guests on the show do not conform to current narratives of the Right or Left, but instead provide nuanced and critical analysis. This allows listeners to expand their political understanding and think critically about complex issues.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is its focus on building solidarity between the Western world and the non-Western world. Vijay Prashad's interview was particularly insightful in highlighting how the left in the West often lacks ideas for building solidarity with other parts of the world. This podcast provides important discussions on global politics and offers new insights into how radical change is not only necessary but also possible.

    While this podcast offers a wealth of valuable information, one potential downside is that some episodes may be dry or less engaging than others. However, even when discussing dry topics or featuring less captivating guests, the informative nature of the podcast still shines through. The hosts ask thoughtful questions and allow guests to develop their ideas fully, making it an enjoyable listening experience overall.

    In conclusion, The Jacobin Radio podcast is an essential resource for anyone interested in understanding the world from a critical perspective and contributing towards social progress. The well-researched episodes provide thought-provoking analysis and insight from a variety of well-regarded guests. Despite occasional dry topics or less captivating episodes, this podcast consistently delivers valuable knowledge and wisdom that will expand listeners' understanding of political issues.



    Search for episodes from Jacobin Radio with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Jacobin Radio

    The Dig: Muskism w/ Ben Tarnoff and Quinn Slobodian

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2026 166:17


    Featuring Ben Tarnoff and Quinn Slobodian on their book Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed. What the world's bizarre richest man reveals about our financially fabulist, hard tech, far-right political-economic era. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Find Against Tech Oligarchy at Haymarketbooks.org  Learn more about Hate Speech at UCPress.edu The Dig goes deep into politics everywhere, from labor struggles and political economy to imperialism and immigration. Hosted by Daniel Denvir.

    Confronting Capitalism: What Makes a Marxist?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2026 49:13


    Karl Marx famously declared that he was not a Marxist. But his theoretical work spawned many branches of research, political movements, and heated debate. Can we identify a set of unifying ideas that make up Marxism? On this latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber and Melissa Naschek look at the foundations of Marx's writing and explain how Marxism has both developed and degenerated over the past century. The latest issue of Catalyst is out and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.

    Jacobin Radio: Jewish Anti-Zionists w/ Benjamin Moser

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2026 54:32


    Pulitzer Prize winner Benjamin Moser joins Suzi to discuss his new book, Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History, which recovers a century of Jewish opposition to Zionism, told through twelve lives, from an assassinated Dutch dissident to Hannah Arendt to the photographer Nan Goldin. Moser opens with his own grandfather's copy of Theodor Herzl's The Jewish State — the one object the family carried out of Nazi Germany — and traces his break with an unexamined liberal Zionism to a 2016 trip to Hebron: “It's not that Israel is doing things that are wrong,” he said. “It's that Israel itself is wrong.” Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

    Behind the News: The Gospel of Live, Laugh, Love w/ Kristin Kobes Du Mez

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2026 53:00


    Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of Live Laugh Love, dives into the world of right-wing evangelical Christian women. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Long Reads: Ansar Allah's Offensive in Yemen w/ Helen Lackner

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2026 48:22


    Over the past few weeks, Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, has launched a major offensive. The offensive could have major implications for the world economy, as it involves one of its most important trade routes through the Red Sea. It certainly has major implications for Saudi Arabia. Long Reads is joined by Helen Lackner, an expert on the politics of Yemen and the author of several books about the country. This is the third time Helen has joined us on the podcast. In this week's episode, we're going to cover events since the last time Helen spoke to us more than two years ago. Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies with music by Knxwledge.

    Behind the News: The Backlash to School Vouchers w/ Jennifer Berkshire

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2026 53:01


    Jennifer Berkshire talks about the anti-school voucher backlash. Heather Berg, author of Notes from the Sex Worker Left, discusses what that formation brings to politics. Read Jennifer's article for Jacobin, “Americans Are Turning Against School Vouchers,” here: https://jacobin.com/2026/09/school-choice-vouchers-public-opposition Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    The Dig: Winning Providence w/ Ben Shanahan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2026 146:32


    Featuring Ben Shanahan, the architect of socialist David Morales' victorious campaign to be the Democratic nominee for mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. The Providence left ran a slate of left-wing candidates that not only elected Morales but also swept every single contested city council seat on a platform of capping the rent and building social housing. Read Dennis Hogan's essays on the Providence win in n+1 and Dissent: nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/the-hi-neighbor-mayor/ dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/david-morales-providence-municipal-socialism/ Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Listen to Death in Westminster on any podcast platform.   Get 20% off an annual print subscription to The Break—Down at break-down.org/dig/ The Dig goes deep into politics everywhere, from labor struggles and political economy to imperialism and immigration. Hosted by Daniel Denvir.

    Confronting Capitalism: Socialists and Markets

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2026 46:45


    It's all too common for people to associate the mere existence of markets with capitalism. But because we know markets had a life before capitalism, we can also imagine them having a life after. On this latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber and Melissa Naschek compare how markets operated in pre-capitalist economies versus modern capitalist economies to see if markets may prove useful in future socialist societies. The latest issue of Catalyst is out and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.

    Jacobin Radio: The Machinery of ICE Detention w/ John Washington

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2026 65:55


    A prisoner is held, in theory, for something they did. The people inside America's roughly 250 immigration detention camps are held for who they are, or where they're from. That distinction anchors journalist John Washington's new book, How to Close a Camp: Dispatches from the Fight Against Immigrant Detention. He joins Suzi to trace the bipartisan machinery behind ICE detention — from the reservation system to today's $240 billion buildout — and the local permits, contracts, and licenses that make these camps more vulnerable than they look. In Surprise, Arizona, a thousand residents showed up to block a $70 million warehouse conversion. “The opposite of a camp is community,” Washington argues — and closing one, keeping it closed, depends on exactly that. Plus: Meleiza Figueroa remembers David Cobb, who died on Labor Day. Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

    Behind the News: The Terrors (and Promise) of AI w/ Garrison Lovely

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 53:01


    Garrison Lovely, author of Obsolete, discusses the terrors and possible promise of artificial intelligence. Dave Zirin looks back on the life and work of Howard Zinn, the subject of his new biography. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Long Reads: The Class Politics of Central Banking w/ Martijn Konings

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2026 63:17


    The US Federal Reserve appointed a new chair earlier this year. Kevin Warsh replaced Jerome Powell, who had been under constant fire from the Trump administration. For many, Warsh's appointment represented a turn towards the overt politicization of monetary policy. Is the age of central bank independence coming to an end? And is it something that the Left should mourn or celebrate? Martijn Konings, professor of political economy at the University of Sydney and author of The Bailout State: Why Governments Rescue Banks, Not People, joins Long Reads to discuss the state of central banking. Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies with music by Knxwledge.

    The Dig: Mailbag! w/ Ben Mabie

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2026 108:10


    Featuring Daniel Denvir and Ben Mabie answering questions posed by you, our listeners. Submit a question for our next mailbag: speakpipe.com/ListenerMailbag Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Read the piece Ben mentioned, “From the Camp to the Picket: Reflections from the UC Strike for Palestine”: longhaulmag.com/uc-strike-for-palestine Learn more about The Shadow Court and Disability Revolution at UCPress.edu The Dig goes deep into politics everywhere, from labor struggles and political economy to imperialism and immigration. Hosted by Daniel Denvir.

    Behind the News: Trump's Venezuelan Oil Grab w/ Alejandro Velasco

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2026 53:01


    Alejandro Velasco looks at Trump's oil grab in Venezuela. Alex Vitale imagines a post-carceral future. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Confronting Capitalism: Labor Needs Socialists and Socialists Need Labor

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2026 58:45


    Unions have more public support than just about anything else in the US, and yet, their membership has cratered. This poses an immense challenge to left-wing politicians, who won't be able to enact lasting change without a robust labor movement beside them. On this latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber addresses the age-old question of whether unions are inherently political, the importance (and limits) of internal democracy within unions, and why socialists have always been at the heart of the labor movement. The latest issue of Catalyst is out and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.

    Jacobin Radio: Is a Recession Imminent? w/ Michael Roberts

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2026 59:38


    Producer and guest host Mel Figueroa speaks with economist Michael Roberts about the teetering house of cards that is the US and global economy, and how it is all connected to the Iran war and more: Scott Bessent, bond markets, the crisis in private credit, the AI bubble, de-dollarization, and inflation. Is a recession or a depression imminent? The media financial and economic discourse is wildly different from what we experience in our day-to-day struggles; we unpack why that is, and how anxiety at the top of this K-shaped economy will still have real consequences for the US working class. Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

    The Dig: Insuring Catastrophe w/ David Wallace-Wells

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2026 128:53


    Featuring David Wallace-Wells, Madison Condon, and Moira Birss on how insurance companies profit off climate catastrophe — and, in doing so, ensure that people and the planet suffer the consequences. Guest hosted by Astra Taylor. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Read “National Disaster Insurance for All: Single-Payer Disaster Insurance and Community Resilience Investments for Safer and More Affordable Housing”: climateandcommunity.org/research/national-disaster-insurance-for-all-single-payer-disaster-insurance-and-community-resilience-investments-for-safer-and-more-affordable-housing/ Find out more about the Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World reading group here: equator.org/events/late-victorian-holocausts Find When We Are Kin and The Veiled Prophet at Haymarketbooks.org The Dig goes deep into politics everywhere, from labor struggles and political economy to imperialism and immigration. Hosted by Daniel Denvir.

    Behind the News: The Political Economy of Slavery w/ David McNally

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2026 53:00


    David McNally, author of Slavery and Capitalism, discusses the political economy of the institution. Plus: Billy Fleming, author of Building Postcarbon Futures, explains how we might get from here to there. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Jacobin Radio: Rethinking Natural Disaster w/ Mike Davis

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2026 56:39


    Mike Davis died in 2022, but his work is more urgent than ever. As record temperatures, fires, floods, El Niño, and megadroughts threaten the planet, we hear his prescient 1995 talk, “Reconceptualizing the Environment.” Mike challenged the idea of “natural disaster,” showing how market-driven development put Los Angeles in harm's way while shifting costs onto the public and the poor. Our sponsor Equator magazine is running an online reading group of Mike's Late Victorian Holocausts, his landmark study of how climate shocks, empire, and the world market combined to produce mass famine and deepen global inequality. Check it out at equator.org/events Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

    Behind the News: Israel's Assault on Southern Lebanon w/ Aurélie Daher

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2026 53:01


    Aurélie Daher, author of a piece for Responsible Statecraft, looks at the destruction Israel is visiting upon southern Lebanon. Annie McClanahan, author of Beneath the Wage, discusses nonstandard forms of work and compensation. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Confronting Capitalism: The Return of Industrial Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2026 45:37


    Advanced capitalist countries have recently rediscovered the role of industrial policy to build out key economic sectors like semiconductors and AI. But what happens if business is the one calling all the shots? On this latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, we're sharing Vivek Chibber's keynote address from the 2026 IFAR Consortium Conference, hosted by the Indonesian International Islamic University. He discusses how developing countries used industrial policy in the past, why the US and Europe are now turning to greater state intervention, and how one could build a new social-democratic alliance between the state and labor. The latest issue of Catalyst is out and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.

    Behind the News: Capital's Chatbots w/ Jodi Dean

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2026 53:01


    Jodi Dean, who has a new Substack on the issue, surveys how AI has been terrible. Anatol Lieven, author of a new article for New Left Review's Sidecar blog, looks at the bloody stalemate that is the Russia–Ukraine war. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    The Dig: Destruction of the Jewish Bund w/ Molly Crabapple

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2026 128:27


    Featuring Molly Crabapple on her book Here Where We Live Is Our Country: The Story of the Jewish Bund. The second in a two-part interview. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Buy Decolonizing Money at Plutobooks.com  Buy Femmephilia at Haymarketbooks.org The Dig goes deep into politics everywhere, from labor struggles and political economy to imperialism and immigration. Hosted by Daniel Denvir.

    Long Reads: How US Media Whitewashed the Gaza Genocide w/ Adam Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 73:22


    From the very start of the Gaza genocide, Western media outlets were happy to repeat the most outlandish claims from Israeli government officials. One of the most notorious examples was the allegation that dozens of Israeli babies were beheaded on October 7, 2023, a story amplified by CNN and promoted by the former US president, Joe Biden, who claimed to have seen “confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.” Of course, Biden was lying — it never happened. This failure to ask any serious questions before reporting the most inflammatory claims set the tone for media coverage of Gaza, right up to the present day. Adam Johnson joins Long Reads to discuss a pattern of journalistic malpractice by some of the world's most prestigious newspapers and broadcasters. Adam is a media critic and the author of a new book about Gaza and the US media, How to Sell A Genocide. It chronicles how influential media outlets, instead of reporting on the crimes Israel was committing in Gaza, helped the Biden administration whitewash them. Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies with music by Knxwledge.

    Jacobin Radio: Health Care Class Struggle w/ Gabriel Winant

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2026 58:41


    “Men in hard hats were once the heart of America's working class. Now it is women in scrubs,” says historian Gabriel Winant, author of The Next Shift, who joins Suzi to explain how deindustrialization made health care the country's largest employer, but the jobs are lower paid, understaffed, and more precarious. That's playing out now at UVM Medical Center, where Vermont's own regulator found the nonprofit hospital was over-earning. Its response? Cut union jobs while nineteen top executives split $3 million in bonuses. Three union leaders — Melissa LaVallee, Teagan Cook, and Emma Galvin — from AFT Vermont, a branch of the American Federation of Teachers, describe the fight from inside for safe staffing and common-good demands. Their contract expires midnight on August 13th. The stakes are national. Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

    Behind the News: The Rise of India's “Cockroach” Movement w/ Aditya Nigam

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2026 53:01


    Aditya Nigam looks at the “Cockroach” protest movement in India. Then, Gerald Epstein and Juliet Schor outline a detailed set of proposals to transform the US economy. Read their papers here: https://peri.umass.edu/gamechangers/ Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    The Dig: Making the Jewish Bund w/ Molly Crabapple

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2026 92:13


    Featuring Molly Crabapple on her book Here Where We Live Is Our Country: The Story of the Jewish Bund. The first episode of a two-part interview. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig. Buy Unions of Our Own and Femmephilia at Haymarketbooks.org. The Dig goes deep into politics everywhere, from labor struggles and political economy to imperialism and immigration. Hosted by Daniel Denvir.

    Confronting Capitalism: How Capitalism Undermines Democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2026 48:29


    Libertarian thinkers like Milton Friedman like to say that capitalism not only gave birth to democracy but also is the ideal economic system to complement democracy. But while capitalism may have created the conditions for democracy, it's actually the main obstacle to securing full democratic rights. On this latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber and Melissa Naschek examine the worker struggles central to the rise of democracy, and why, in a system built around profit, the ruling class opposes it. The latest issue of Catalyst is out and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.

    The Dig: Nusantara Ep. 8 — Reform Stalls, Oligarchy Triumphs

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2026 135:36


    The eighth and final episode in a series on the history of Indonesia: a hinge in the world system where colonialism and revolution have decisively shaped the trajectory of global history. This last installment picks up with the 2014 election of Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, to the presidency. That promise was soon betrayed, laying the groundwork for the rise of Prabowo Subianto, a scion of Suharto who represents nearly everything repugnant about the New Order regime. And yet Prabowo's rule remains beset by contradiction and controversy — and Indonesia's political future remains uncertain. Featuring Rianne Subijanto, Made Supriatma, Iqra Anugrah, and Farabi Fakih. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Check out IndoPROGRESS promotion of Nusantara in Bahasa Indonesia: instagram.com/reel/DafhG9-qdPW/ Watch Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time: youtube.com/watch?v=A-pPemC8m_M Buy The Extended Universe at Haymarketbooks.org Find Money In The Mountains at Plutobooks.com The Dig goes deep into politics everywhere, from labor struggles and political economy to imperialism and immigration. Hosted by Daniel Denvir.

    Long Reads: China's Next Decade w/ Eli Friedman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 59:30


    Over the last couple of years, media coverage of China has focused on the trade war launched by the Trump administration. While Trump and his tariffs have been grabbing the headlines, there have been some major developments in China's domestic political economy. So far this year, the Chinese authorities have announced plans to reform the hukou system that controls the movement of workers around the country. They've also published their latest five-year plan setting out development goals for the rest of the decade. Eli Friedman joins Long Reads to talk about what's been happening in China. Eli is a professor of global labor at Cornell University and the coauthor of China in Global Capitalism. Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies with music by Knxwledge.

    Jacobin Radio: The World Cup's Impact and FIFA's Mendacity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2026 97:26


    In a jam-packed final installment of The People's Game on Jacobin Radio, Mel and Alan speak with five distinguished guests. The feature interview is with Jules Boykoff, author of Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing, and the FIFA Greed Machine. Boykoff, speaking on the day before the final between Spain and Argentina, reflects on what has defied, met, or exceeded his expectations about this year's men's World Cup soccer tournament. What lasting impact might the most profitable, largest, and longest major soccer tournament in history have on the global game? What does a 39-day carnival of soccer staged during a time of global and national crisis reveal about 21st-century society? We also ask One Fair Wage organizer Saru Jayaramen, political scientist Vanessa Tyson (who played varsity soccer at Princeton), and left progressive congressional candidates Chris Rabb (PA-3) and Randy Villegas (CA-22) for their take on the tournament. Meanwhile, former UK Member of Parliament George Galloway says the corruption has gone too far, and promises to expose the depths of FIFA's mendacity to the world. Finally, the People's Game's co-hosts and co-producers — Alan Minsky, Meleiza Figueroa, and Fernando Romero — summarize their thoughts and feelings about the North American World Cup. An equal measure of triumph and disgrace? Did the excitement of so many great games once again earn FIFA a pass? Or was this the year that fans finally have had enough? Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

    Behind the News: A Vision of Democratic Socialism w/ Michaela Brangan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2026 53:01


    Michaela Brangan, co-chair of the group that wrote DSA's new platform, speaks about the group's vision. Hagen Blix, co-author of Why We Fear AI, examines exactly that. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Confronting Capitalism: Socialism and Class Traitors

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2026 32:08


    We try to cover a lot of topics on this show, and that inevitably leads to many more follow-up questions. Luckily for you, on this latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber answers YOUR questions! In particular, Vivek explains property under market socialism, assesses the effectiveness of salting in working-class jobs, and disentangles class locations and occupations. The latest issue of Catalyst is out and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.

    Behind the News: The US Tradition of Inequality w/ Kim Phillips-Fein

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2026 53:01


    Kim Phillips-Fein, author of Country of Lords, traces the anti-egalitarian tradition in American politics. Aziz Rana discusses the tensions between the Declaration and the Constitution (from a 2024 interview). And Jasmine Wynn, author of a recent Jacobin article, looks at the National Black Empowerment Coalition, basically an AIPAC front group. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Long Reads: Football's State of Emergency w/ David Goldblatt

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2026 29:59


    The World Cup has entered its final week, and so far we've seen unprecedented levels of direct political interference in the organization of the tournament. The FIFA president Gianni Infantino gave his ally Donald Trump a blank check to exclude anyone he liked from the US, even referees. Trump himself notoriously weighed in after a US player received a red card before their game against Belgium; FIFA agreed to cancel the player's suspension as a favor to the US president. To discuss the politics of the World Cup, Long Reads is joined by David Goldblatt. David is one of the leading historians of the sport. His books include The Ball Is Round: A Global History of Football, The Age of Football: The Global Game in the Twenty-First Century, and, most recently, Injury Time: Football in a State of Emergency. This interview was conducted Tuesday, July 14th, before the semi finals between France and Spain and between Argentina and England. Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies with music by Knxwledge.

    The Dig: Nusantara Ep. 7 — Suharto's Fall

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2026 130:56


    The seventh episode in a series on the history of Indonesia: a hinge in the world system where colonialism and revolution have decisively shaped the trajectory of global history. This penultimate installment analyses the 1998 fall of Suharto and his New Order dictatorship. Basic political freedoms were established but the transition to democracy never included a transition away from oligarchy. And it happened in the absence of a mass organized left — a left that had been destroyed through the mass anti-communist killings of 1965 and '66. We also trace the arc of three conflicts on Indonesia's colonial periphery that have decisively shaped its recent history: West Papua, East Timor, and Aceh. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Buy Song For Hard-Hit People at Haymarketbooks.org Find Money In The Mountains at Plutobooks.com The Dig goes deep into politics everywhere, from labor struggles and political economy to imperialism and immigration. Hosted by Daniel Denvir.

    Jacobin Radio: The Surreal Contradictions of the World Cup w/ Ron Placone

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2026 53:58


    In another installment of The People's Game on Jacobin Radio, co-hosts Alan Minsky and Meleiza Figueroa speak with eminent sports historian David Goldblatt, who lays out all the ways in which, despite the corruption and controversy surrounding FIFA's oligarchic nature and Trump's bumbling attempt to put his thumb on the scale, the World Cup — and the game itself — will always belong to the people. Josh Pechtalt, a longtime union activist in Los Angeles, also joins us live on air to talk about America's previous pastime, baseball, and a campaign urging the champion Dodgers to reject Trump's invitation to the White House. Finally, we speak to comedian Ron Placone about the surreal and sometimes hilarious contradictions surrounding this year's World Cup in Trump's America. Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

    Behind the News: The Devastating Effects of Private Equity w/ Hettie O'Brien

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2026 53:01


    Hettie O'Brien, author of The Asset Class, on the private equity racket — who they are, what they do. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Confronting Capitalism: Why the French Revolution Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2026 50:15


    On July 14, 1789, the storming of the Bastille in Paris marked the transition of the French Revolution from an elite negotiation into a truly mass event. But what kicked off this insurgency and what does it have to do with left politics? On the latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber and Melissa Naschek discuss the radical origins of Bastille Day, examine the class politics of the French revolutionaries, and challenge the old Marxist notion of a bourgeois revolution. The latest issue of Catalyst is out and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.

    Jacobin Radio: World Cup Update w/ Laurent Dubois

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2026 55:11


    On Jacobin Radio, the team behind the People's Game podcast continue their unique coverage of the 2026 World Cup, analyzing the men's football games on the field as well as the political, social and economic subtexts of the world's most popular sporting event. Guest hosts Alan Minsky and Meleiza Figueroa are joined by Laurent Dubois, a professor of history at the University of Virginia. Laurent has two bodies of work of equal importance to the People's Game: one on the history and culture of the Atlantic world, focusing on the Caribbean, Haiti, North America, and France, the second on fútbol, with a focus on the game in Africa, France, and the African diaspora. Laurent sings the praises of the French national team, who remain the favorites to win the tournament, celebrates a strong showing by Haiti, marvels at the brilliance of African diasporic players on countless teams, and explains why African soccer has developed so spectacularly in recent decades. Then we're joined by Hartzell Gray, a DSA- and PDA-endorsed candidate for Congress and Missouri's 4th District. Until recently, Hartzell was the voice of Kansas City's Major League Soccer team. He shares his thoughts about late capitalism's greatest spectacle coming to his hometown — including the harrowing ICE raids across the Kansas City metropolitan area that coincided with the tournament. Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

    Behind the News: Outlines of a Socialist Economy w/ Aaron Benanav

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2026 53:01


    Aaron Benanav, author of a report for the Autonomy Institute, on what a future socialist society might look like. Amy Laura Hall, author of Erecting the Pulpit, on muscular Christianity. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Long Reads: Trillion Dollar Baby w/ Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 51:37


    In September 2025, Elon Musk spoke by video link to a fascist rally in London. Tommy Robinson, the organizer of the rally and a convicted criminal, has been trying to incite a racial war on the streets of Britain. That record of incitement won him the admiration of Musk. Since delivering the speech, Musk has become the world's first trillionaire, boosting his war chest even further. Today's episode is the second part of an interview with Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff, the authors of Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed. The interview was conducted shortly before the SpaceX IPO that gave Musk his trillion-dollar valuation. The first part of the interview concentrates on the growth of Musk's business empire with companies like SpaceX and Tesla. This episode focuses on his political turn over the last decade. Read Jacobin's reviews of Muskism here: https://jacobin.com/2026/03/muskism-futurism-fordism-sovereignty-technology And here: https://jacobin.com/2026/03/musk-slobodian-tarnoff-neoliberalism-right Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies with music by Knxwledge.

    The Dig: Nusantara Ep. 6 — Mass Killing, New Order

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2026 161:43


    The sixth episode in a series on the history of Indonesia: a hinge in the world system where colonialism and revolution have decisively shaped the trajectory of global history. This installment details Suharto's right-wing military coup and the horrific political crime that accompanied it: the US-backed mass murder of Indonesian communists. The military's mass slaughter inaugurated Suharto's oligarchic, authoritarian, and corrupt New Order regime — a regime that would endure for three decades and continues to shape Indonesia to this day. Featuring Rianne Subijanto, Made Supriatma, and Farabi Fakih. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Subscribe to Dissent Magazine at dissentmag.org/subscribe Get 50% off From the Clinics to the Streets, or any first book purchase from plutobooks.com with code DIG50. The Dig goes deep into politics everywhere, from labor struggles and political economy to imperialism and immigration. Hosted by Daniel Denvir.

    Behind the News: The US-Iran Talks w/ Mouin Rabbani and Anatol Lieven

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2026 53:01


    Two views from Behind the News regulars on the US-Iran negotiations: Anatol Lieven and Mouin Rabbani. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Jacobin Radio: Football Fandom w/ Ryan McKnight

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2026 62:27


    On this edition of Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman, guest co-hosts Alan Minsky and Mel Figueroa present another installment of The People's Game, a quadrennial series that looks at the economic and political subtexts of the world's most popular sport. They are joined by Ryan McKnight, a doctoral researcher at Manchester Met University in the UK who is researching the impact of neoliberalism on what he calls “the opportunity of football fandom.” According to Ryan, football fandom is one of the last remaining forms of large-scale collectivism in the UK, offering a unique window into the nature of society. Next, Alan Minsky speaks to former Congressman Jamaal Bowman to get his thoughts on the World Cup, the victory of his hometown Knicks, and how both are being experienced in Mayor Mamdani's NYC. Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

    Confronting Capitalism: The Politics of Mass Deportation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2026 45:50


    Donald Trump has made the issue of immigration a key battleground in US politics. But with public opinion swinging against the brutal ICE raids and deportations over the past year, how should the Left respond? On the latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber and Melissa Naschek are joined by Catalyst board member Suzy Lee. Suzy has written extensively on the political economy and politics of American immigration and migration more broadly. Together, they look at how Trump capitalized on the post-COVID surge in immigration and offer an alternative vision around immigrant rights and border politics. Read Suzy Lee's recent essay here: https://catalyst-journal.com/2026/04/the-logic-of-mass-deportation The latest issue of Catalyst is out, and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.

    Behind the News: How Cops Rose Above the Law w/ Stuart Schrader

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2026 53:01


    Stuart Schrader, author of Blue Power, explains how the political heft of cops allows them to get away with murder. Angela Jones, author of Sex in Public, looks at the social and political factors shaping our sexual lives. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    Long Reads: Trillion Dollar Baby w/ Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2026 49:20


    Elon Musk became the world's first trillionaire last week after the record-breaking IPO of his company SpaceX. Musk presents the firm's economic take off as the necessary means to a wider end for humanity, to become a multi-planetary species. “That's what SpaceX is all about,” Musk recently said at the company's headquarters. “To take the fiction out of science fiction.” While Musk was looking to the stars, the people of Belfast were still reeling from several days of racist violence. The Belfast pogrom drew strength from the far-right ecosystem that Musk has nurtured with the money from SpaceX, Tesla, and other companies. Musk himself repeatedly called for anti-immigrant protests and boosted the messaging of Britain's neofascist right. His social-media platform generated the atmosphere of a frenzied lynch mob. Over two episodes, Long Reads will explore the two sides of Elon Musk and his impact on the world. Our guests are Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff, authors of Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed. This interview was conducted a few days before the SpaceX IPO. Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies with music by Knxwledge.

    Jacobin Radio: The People's World Cup

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2026 86:25


    The show's co-producers Alan Minsky and Meleiza Figueroa fill in for Suzi with a special installment of their quadrennial podcast series, The People's Game⁠, which covers the world's most popular spectacle from a socialist internationalist perspective. Alan and Mel talk with their fellow People's Game co-host Fernando Romero about, well, “everything” going on in the world. How surreal it feels to be passionate fans of the beloved global game when the political circumstances inside the World Cup's primary host country are so fraught and dire for so many people inside and outside US borders. Fernando Romero is beaming! We spoke with him on the eve of his journey to Mexico. First stop is Mexico City for the opening game, then onto Guadalajara and Monyterrey, all three World Cup cities in Mexico. We then speak with Thomas Hanna from the Democracy Collaborative, a longtime fan and player, about the problems — and potential — for the people's game as a vehicle for democracy rather than capitalism. As a fútbol fan, Thomas mirrors his work with the Democracy Collaborative, which advocates for worker ownership of businesses and industry, and assists worker-led efforts to own and control their workplaces. Thomas helps organize a growing global movement for fans to own their favorite clubs. Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

    Behind the News: Why the Right Hates Theory w/ Moira Weigel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2026 53:01


    J.W. Mason and Arjun Jayadev, authors of the new book Against Money, explain that curious stuff and enumerate its problems. Moira Weigel, author of a recent article for the journal October, takes a look at why the right hates theory. Behind the News, hosted by Doug Henwood, covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global.

    The Dig: Nusantara Ep. 5 — Armed Conflicts, Guided Democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2026 129:28


    The fifth episode in a series on the history of Indonesia: a hinge in the world system where colonialism and revolution have decisively shaped the trajectory of global history. This installment traces the armed conflicts—civil wars and then confrontations with the Dutch and British — that propelled Indonesia into Sukarno's authoritarian Guided Democracy system and cascading economic crisis. Both the military and the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) became increasingly powerful forces on the eve of 1965–when the armed forces would slaughter the communists and inaugurate Suharto's New Order. Featuring Rianne Subijanto, Made Supriatma, and Farabi Fakih. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Register for the Socialism Conference by June 19th for the early bird rate! Socialismconference.org Get 50% off Backlash: The Global Rise of the Radical Right , or any first book purchase from plutobooks.com with code ‘DIG50' The Dig goes deep into politics everywhere, from labor struggles and political economy to imperialism and immigration. Hosted by Daniel Denvir.

    Confronting Capitalism: Who Counts as a Worker?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2026 47:14


    In the midst of Graham Platner's high-profile senate race in Maine, several media commentators jumped on whether he would fit within his own definition of the working class. Do we know how to pick out workers from other classes? And what bearing does this have for socialist politics? On the latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber and Melissa Naschek offer a full definition of who's in the working class, how to understand the modern US class structure, and why workers are central to left political strategy. The latest issue of Catalyst is out, and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.

    Claim Jacobin Radio

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel