Podcasts about revolutionz

Ep 337 of RevolutionZ displays connections between Netanyahu's vicious brutality and Trump's cruel authoritarianism. It examines the psychological mechanisms that enable or oppose both by discussing the need to maintain humanity while confronting inhumanity. "Can we hate the acts yet somehow recognize that those involved are people like us?" From snipers targeting children in Gaza to the creeping normalization of fascist cruelty in America, we witness power that "corrupts, coerces, incarcerates, kidnaps and, increasingly, murders." Yet resistance movements continue to grow to put "steadily growing pressure on elites of all kinds."The episode dissects the three phony rationales that prop up both Trumpism and Netanyahu's policies: protect "meritocracy," promote "efficiency," and fight "anti-Semitism." Each concept has been grotesquely perverted to justify oppression. Under the accompanying twisted logic, "merit" comes to mean conformity to power, "efficiency" comes to mean advancing elite interests regardless of human cost, and "anti-Semitism" is weaponized against critics of Zionism while actual Nazi sympathizers receive embraces. The real agenda—to establish one-man rule and enhance profit and power of the already rich and powerful—stands nakedly visible for anyone willing to see.This episode also warns of the confusion many will experience when Trump claims victories and occasionally even implements policies with positive elements. The challenge will be to recognize that even as some battles appear to end, the war against fascism must continue. The episode argues  that we all need to join the growing resistance—because Trump's and Netanyahu's only real strength is our submission.Support the show

Episode 336 of RevolutionZ takes up issues of education as it is, as it should be, and how to go from the former to the latter. Trump, Vance, and their allies know that truth and critical thinking threaten their power. That's why they're launching unprecedented attacks on education—they want compliant, uncritical citizens who will accept authoritarianism without question.Current education? Among other aults, our schools track students into predetermined social roles: roughly 2% owners, 20% coordinators (managers, professionals), and 80% workers. This is a deliberate system to prepare each group for their designated place in society's hierarchies.The elite response to the Sixties? The Carnegie Commission concluded there was "too much education" in the 1960s? Students had been educated to expect dignity and agency. We widely rebelled when those expectations were crushed. The mainstream's solution? Reduce educational quality and access for most people while preserving elite pathways for the few—a trend Trump seeks to finalize.But another educational world is possible. Schools could develop each person's full potential while fostering solidarity, equity, and self-management. This episode further explores these  possibilities and proposes steps for both higher education and K-12 institutions such as to establish worker-student councils, create fair compensation systems, and transform curricula to empower all participants. Such changes would not only improve current conditions but build momentum toward fundamental transformation.The battle for education is ultimately about what kind of humans—and what kind of society—we wish to become. Visit 4liberation.org to explore the 20 Theses for Liberation which this episode jumps off from. Don't we all need to join a movement to reclaim education as a liberating force in our struggle against fascism and for a just world. What educational future will you help create?Support the show

Episode 335 of RevolutionZ notes that when millions took to the streets after Trump's first election victory, a crucial question arose: "What can people do next?" and how can they connect with it? The new All of Us Directory (at allofusdirectory.org) creates easy means for everyday people and seasoned activists like to connect with grassroots organizations where they can exercise their collective power.Longtime community activist Cynthia Peters shares with RevolutionZ the vision behind this searchable database of grassroots organizations that she and other conveners including myself have recently created to assist resistance to Trump and beyond. Peters shares compelling stories from her years of organizing tenant associations in Boston. She describes how tenants shift from isolated individuals with their only option being to beg landlords for concessions to unified groups capable of wielding real power as in a tenant association that stands together to prevent eviction of one of their members, even when the landlord had legal grounds, demonstrating how collective power can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.From the directory project discussion that addresses the challenges now facing nonprofit organizations, the tensions between preservation and growth, and how fear of repression can lead to self-censorship Peters describes  the discipline required for effective organizing while acknowledging the necessity of creating spaces where people can make mistakes and grow together.Throughout this discussion runs a powerful optimism—not naive optimism, but informed hope grounded in concrete experiences of what people can accomplish when they organize effectively. As Peters puts it, using a powerful metaphor from a kayaking experience: sometimes we need to "paddle as if our lives depend on it," and we're much more likely to succeed when we paddle together.So please visit allofusdirectory.org to find organizations and projects you might wish to work with. Search among hundreds of options filtering to find those that match  your location, issues you care about, and the kinds of work you would like to contribute. And then tell others about it! This is the first public mention of the option. Help it along. As Peters notes, our future depends not just on what "someone else" might do, but on what all of us do together.Support the show

Episode 334 of RevolutionZ assess three reactions to Tumpism, their causes, their effects, and their lessons for activism. The episode gets personal and in-depth to make a case  that collective resistance that envisions positive change rather than mere survival can transform these "worst of times" into the "best of times," and to indicate some features it might involve.The three reactions to Trumpism the episode considers are first passive accommodation like some students and faculty obeying their Trustees, like some lawyers obeying their bosses, like some non-profits self censoring their web sites and budgets, and like some householders  bemoaning but not fighting Trumpism; second, active collaboration like some university trustees bowing to Trump, some law firm partners kissing Trump's ring, some elected officials marching with Trump in violent array, and I guess the Proud Boys too; and then, third, there is resistance, growing and diversifying.Accommodation often reflects fear and exhaustion, but it also and perhaps mainly rests on beliefs that fighting corporate and poilitical power is futile and in any event even if it won some change the gains would lead back to similar problems. Accommodation, afflicting tens of milions, can and mst be respectfully overcome. In contrast, collaborators actively enable Trump's agenda despite and even due to knowing its effects. They lack empathy for those harmed. Collaboration must be overrun. Finally, to be really effective,  resistance must not just oppose Trump but offer positive alternatives that can inspire sustained involvement. Resistance wins by raising costs to elites until they abandon their agenda. Movements can accomplish that when they connect specific struggles to broader solidarity. Before signing off the episode indicates varous program-like steps that resistance can continue unfolding, refine, and augment but then the  episode raises a troubling concern. Where are the young people in this movement--not a relative few but a great many many? Hopefully they are meeting, talking, practicing, and preparing to explode onto the scene soon.Support the show

Episode 333 of RevolutionZ addresses the question is there anything worth seeking beyond existing economics and in particular modes of allocation? It goes into some depth revealing the horrible intrinsic ills of markets and central planning. For example, it discusses how markets and central planning both yield top-down decision-making and a corporate division of labor and a coordinator class above workers. It shows how central planning is and induces further authoritarianism and how markets reward output and bargaining power while forcing antisocial competition. IT traces how even initially egalitarian workplaces under market pressure eventually recreate class divisions. It moves from critique to advocacy to  discuss how participatory planning involves workers and consumers in cooperatively determining production through councils, in enjoying income based on duration, intensity, and onerousness of socially valued labor, and enjoying conditions where my well-being becomes a condition of your well-being and vice  versa. The unifying message of the episode is that while immediate struggles against authoritarian threats and to stop Trump are essential, developing positive  vision is  also crucial to sustain motivation and avoid a return to the flawed pre-crisis status quo.The episode also discusses the difficulty of advocating such a vision over the past few decades and seeks help in doing better. Support the show

Episode 332 of RevolutionZ has Hunter Dunn of Southern Cal 50501 as guest to share insight from his experiences with organizing the massive Southern Cal Unites protest in downtown LA, as part of the nationwide April 5th demonstrations against the Trump Administration. Hunter is a Senior at Pepperdine University and our conversation went beyond reporting April 5th tactics, scale, and mechanics to discuss the many factors shaping youth political engagement. Dunn explained how Gen Z members are pulled toward right wing involvement including talking about how right wing influencers and Trump as well as social media algorithms appeal to Gen Z economic despair at their future prospects and social awkwardness and loneliness, particularly among men even as other Gen Z youth are  shifting toward progressive solidarity.Dunn relays how the loudest cheers at the demonstrations weren't just for opposition to Trump, but for bold proposals like universal healthcare, ranked choice voting, and meaningful climate action. He reports that the events revealed not just a growing resistance but growing positive commitment. Americans aren't merely fighting against something, reports Dunn from his campus, an historically conservative one at that, they're fighting for a fundamentally different future.Dunn provides concrete ways to get involved because, as Dunn reminds us, "this isn't just about stopping one administration - it's about creating a society that works for everyone." Support the show

Episode 331 of RevolutionZ has as guest long-time labor organizer Stephen Lerner to provide strategic clarity and emotive urgency about our current situation.Lerner describes a coordinated assault by "billionaires, the fossil fuel industry, and Silicon Valley" to "dominate every aspect of the country." Make public institutions "broke on purpose, "deliberately underfund vital services, and finally privatize them.Lerner argues that in addition to protesting government buildings we need to target the economic interests of billionaires bankrolling authoritarianism. From pension fund divestment to strategic disruption of luxury resorts and businesses, Lerner urges imposing real costs on those who drive inequality. Seek multi union and constituency alliances.Lerner also addresses the paralyzing fear that now prevails. As universities, law firms, and even some unions quickly cave to political pressure, Lerner emphasizes that "to be driven by fear means to give up." He calls for "heroic moments" to inspire others to move "from fear to bravery." And crucially, he warns against fighting merely to return to pre-Trump conditions. He urges the need for positive vision of better.Trump, Musk, and their buddies? For Lerner "These are flawed, billionaire, whiny clowns, and if we get our act together, we will win something much better than the past."Support the show

Episode 330 of RevolutionZ confronts the growing threat of fascism by examining what constitutes genuine resistance versus complicity or apathy. The episode says we face three choices: bow and scrape to fascism, ignore what's happening, or stand and fight. University presidents and private law firms that collaborate with authoritarian demands represent profiles in cowardice. They bow and scrape. Anyone looking around and saying oh no, but who then does nothing more, ignores reality. But students can stand and fight by speaking up in classrooms, dining halls, and dorms to build campus movements that protest and disobey. Workers facing MAGA-aligned employers can stand and fight through solidarity, refusal to comply, and collective action. "Stand and fight" isn't just a rallying cry—it's our only viable path to stop fascism. Episode 330 examines what meaningful opposition looks like. It  dismantles the temptations to submit or ignore what's happening, and instead provides practical examples of how resistance can take shape on college campuses, in workplaces, and throughout communities.More, it urges that resistance must go beyond simply defending against Trump's agenda. To sustain itself and ultimately succeed, resistance must simultaneously plant seeds for a better future that addresses the fundamental flaws that led to our current crisis. This dual approach of defense plus offense can not only energize supporters but potentially reach Trump voters who begin to recognize their interests align more with progressive than reactionary change.The episode concludes by examining three crucial warnings: don't attack attention to trans, race, and gender issues, don't create divisions between defensive and transformative activists, and most importantly, don't succumb to fear. Don't surrender disobey. Realize that nobody is going to win this by themselves. Realize that through collective action and persistent disobedience, we can not only defeat fascism but build something better in its place. Support the show

Episode 329 of RevolutionZ tackles the issue of reform versus revolution in context of the growing resistance to Trumpism and fascism in America. The episode recounts hopeful signs of resistance building across campuses, unions, and communities. But with this surge may come a familiar challenge: will those seeking immediate reforms and those advocating for revolutionary change work together or in opposition?The episode distinguishes between reforms (specific policy changes) and revolution (transforming underlying institutions). It navigates the concerns of both camps: revolutionaries who fear reforms merely accept the existing system, and reformists who see revolutionary rhetoric as distracting from achievable goals. To those who advocate revolution, the episode proposes that fundamental change may be the ultimate goal, but stopping fascism requires coalition with those who find revolution unrealistic. To those who favor only ws reforms, he suggests that resistance benefits from both defensive tactics and positive aspirations that extend beyond single campaigns. Let's try to  immediate struggles that reduce suffering while building toward additional possibilities.The episode offers that "Reformism that ignores anything beyond immediate campaigns is counterproductive. But reforms are essential," And that "revolutionary commitment that ignores the importance of winning reforms and denies existing reality are also counterproductive." For the most powerful resistance can we  combine practical action with visionary thinking, immediate defense with long-term commitment.So how will we engage in resistance? Whether through campus organizing, union solidarity, immigrant protection, or public demonstrations, shouldn't we pursue immediate justice while keeping our eyes on more fundamental transformations that might follow so we don't only go back to the status quo that birthed Trump in the first place? Support the show

Episode 328 of RevolutionZ has as guest Yves Engler, a Canadian writer and political activist who shares his experience of being recently jailed for criticizing a pro-genocide influencer online and facing subsequent charges for "harassing the police" when he publicized his case. We discuss the growing criminalization of pro-Palestinian speech and the importance of solidarity in fighting back against repression.Engler describes growing Canadian support for Palestine activism including how students at universities like Concordia have voted overwhelmingly for BDS resolutions while university administrations remain aligned with pro-Israel donorsWe discuss the challenge of maintaining activism when results aren't immediate and in light of family and other responsibilities, doubts about winning, and other obstacles to activism. Engler also describes how Canadian nationalism has been inflamed by Trump's recent tariff threats and we consider Trump's possible motives as well as differences and parallels between repression in Canada and the United States. and mainly how to successfully counter each. Support the show

Episode 327 of RevolutionZ takes up the question, can  nine different post-capitalist economic visions find common ground in a single unifying framework? Rather than viewing Mainstream Marxist Economy, Councilist Marxist Economy, Anarchist Economy, Solidarity Economy, Green Economy, Degrowth Economy, Feminist Economy, Intercommunalist Economy, and Anti-authoritarian Economy as competing frameworks, what if we highlight   their essential virtues to identify  areas of compatibility?At the heart of this unification project lies Participatory Economics—a vision featuring a productive commons instead of private ownership, self-managing councils intest of top down authority, balanced job complexes instead of a corporate division of labor, equitable remuneration instead of profit seeking exploitation, and participatory planning instead of markets or central planning. Can this tenth perspective  satisfy the core demands of the nine other approaches while violating none of their essential principles?Each perspective contributes vital elements to a comprehensive economic vision: from eliminating capitalist class domination and preventing coordinator class rule to ensuring environmental sustainability, fostering solidarity, and preventing systemic disadvantages based on identity or community. What emerges is a synthesis that strengthens rather than dilutes each perspective's most valuable insights.For activists and thinkers seeking both a defensive strategy against authoritarian capitalism and a positive vision ultimately win, does this synthesis offer a promising path forward? Can the left unite behind a shared economic vision that honors its diverse traditions while providing practical, revolutionary alternatives? That is our focus and challenge this episode.Support the show

Ep 326 of RevolutionZ discusses Trump's unique role in contemporary politics, the problems of a purely defensive strategy, and enlarging resistance activism including reaching Trump voters. It proposes seeking a wealth tax, living wage, labor reforms, free quality education, day care, and health care, positive immigration reform, and various electoral, social, and environmental reforms as positive program to augment defending against Trumpian reactionary attacks. It  highlights the role of media and communication--their's and our's-- and emphasizes throughout the need to get beyond just preventing calamity.Support the show

Episode 325 of RevolutionZ has as its guest the novelist and activist Rivera Sun. We discuss nonviolent resistance as a strategy to combat rising authoritarianism in the U.S. and around the world. The episode reviews the historical effectiveness of nonviolent movements worldwide, the essentials of winning campaigns, the importance of active civil disobedience and of positively engaging allies,  the importance of narratives to movement communication and much more regarding organizing and activism, plus some discussion the efficacy and complexity of writing fiction.Support the show

Episode 324 of RevolutionZ gets personal, a bit strange, I hope a bit humorous, perhaps even a bit helpful. After over six years of episodes, I subject myself as interviewee to myself as a very aggressive interviewer, much more aggressive and even abrasive, than I have been with anyone else. I pounce on me as guest. I challenge me about my motivations.  I ask how I navigate the interplay of confidence and ignorance to discuss a wide range of topics that often go beyond what I have studied. Is it arrogance? Or what? I ask me how I select guests? How I choose topics? What's the balance between expertise, willingness to engage in unfamiliar conversations, and the importance of examining diverse non-expert perspectives? To get still more personal, I ask me rapid-fire questions meant to reveal my personal preferences from favorite athletes, scientists, movies, and writers to whimsical but purportedly revealing queries inspired by Colbert's questionnaire. I then even reflect on this episode's content when asked if I ever wonder why I did what I did. And so on looking behind the curtain. I will be curious to hear, I hope, whether anyone is horrified, amused, or edified, by this episode's approach and content. Support the show

Episode 323 of RevolutionZ has as guest Steve Early who discusses the vital role of the labor movement in the days of Trump. What is going on at work and in unions now? What are union organizers emphasizing? What might we expect from and contribute to worker activism in coming months? To address these matters, Early discusses coalitions between unions and veteran organizations, strategies against privatization, reaching out to attract and involve new union members, independent political action and working-class candidates, forging solidarity between  public and private sector unions, integrating climate issues into labor activism, nurturing solidarity across diverse worker demographics, and more. At a time when some  feel labor is lost, early shows it is not only not lost but on the move and pivotal to winning against Trump and then for positive change. Support the show

Ep 322 of RevolutionZ addresses our necessary battle against harmful policies and the structural changes that are meant to empower them under the Trump administration. How do we recognize the role of societal structures in policy implementation to effectively resist both? How do we develop a proactive stance to fight  against fascistic behavior that aims to install dictatorial rule. How do we address the aggressive policy agenda that threatens immigrants and civil rights? How do we thwart the structural shifts in governance that Trump seeks? How do we develop active resistance and non-compliance rather than succumbing to fear and intimidation to do Trump's work for him?  And finally, as a kind of addendum, how do we understand the recent emergence of Chinese AI and its implications?Support the show

Ep 321 of RevolutionZ considers the I believe false choice of class or identity. We want to understand the world to change it. Why must we choose one focus above some other focus to best pursue effective change? How do class, race, gender, and power priorities and concepts intersect? What if marxism, anarchism, feminism, and nationalism are each correct and yet also each wrong? Is there  a way to think about social change able to combine the virtues of paying priority attention to gender, sexuality, race, culture, power, and class while jettisoning the debits that can accompany exclusive emphasis on feminism, anti-racism, marxism, or anarchism, each taken alone? If yes, do we need that approach to effectively combat fascism and attain a vastly better world? This episode addresses such questions.Support the show

Episode 320 of RevolutionZ addresses the next few months of Trumpian challenge. What can we do? Howmight we do it? Who is we? How does it all work?  This episode addresses reaching way beyond current support with what we call non reformist reform struggles.  How do we assess our own choices? What constitutes success? What brings more success? Episode 320 takes up these and related questions to provoke, inspire, and aid coming activism even against feelings of fear and weakness that many now suffer.  Our target is the most corrupt, callous, and crazy administration, to quote the lead deranged asshole, that anyone has ever seen. Could there be a target with more weaknesses? Our goal is to not only stop Trump and severely weaken MAGA but to do so in a manner that causes all those involved to struggle on after that victory to still more fundamental changes.Support the show

Episode 319 of RevolutionZ, inspired by the release of "A Complete Unknown," seeks to assist in one wish for the film -- to introduce new audience to Dylan's work. It isn't mandatory to study history in order to enjoy today's tunes, but to do so with Dylan opens us to much edification and enrichment. I let the movie select many of the songs to present, but not all. From hundreds Dylan has done, I of course had to settle for less than the whole. So here is a sliver of Dylan, sadly without his vocals and his music, yet nonetheless I hope my clumsy recitation with some brief commentary will prove worth your time and provoke further attention.Consider the feminist undertones in "All I Really Want to Do" and then the sharp critique of misogyny in "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" Consider "Mr. Tambourine Man" and its multiple possible meanings. Consider "Like a Rolling Stone," a song that. electrified the music scene and redefined industry standards with its challenging imagery, length, and focus. Consider Dylan's exploration of relationships and power dynamics, and assess if his messages continue to resonate today. Take special note of "Farewell Angelina," with its exit message that we on the left should have given more attention to.And then there is Dylan's social commentary represented here with "Blowing in the Wind," "Only A Pawn in Their Game," "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)." "The Times They Are A Changin'," and "Dignity." For those familiar with all this, perhaps hearing it spoken with lyrics forefront and with some commentary, may prove inspiring. For those not familiar with Dylan, I offer this introduction to suggest that he is worth some of your attention.And then, back to stopping Trump and winning a better world. Busy being born and not busy dying.Support the show

Episode 318 of RevolutionZ has Jeremy Brecher as guest to discuss his recent exemplary pamphlet which explores strategies for winning against MAGA. The episode discusses Trumpian aims and both electoral and non-electoral forms of our own activism, emphasizing the power of strikes, public pressure, and unified resistance. Brecher describes  successful initiatives like North Carolina's Forward Together and the Poor People's Campaign to show how grassroots movements can bring about significant social transformation. He provides insights into local actions inspired by the Green New Deal, and emphasies the importance of community-driven efforts to foster sustainable justice. We also consider Trump's political character-- is he moron or genius of both--and its implications, as well as our need for extensive solidarity and mutual support.Support the show

Episode 317 of RevolutionZ has as its guest Richard Solomon a grad student activist and organizer. We discuss the mindset, circumstances, and challenges faced by campus activism particularly about Palestine but more broadly as well including differences now as compared to years earlier. We consider the exemplary activist-generated "MIT Science for Genocide" report, the extensive carefully planned administrative repression against student dissent, insights on building coalitions for activism, insights on dealing dealing with widespread apathy, the importance of multi issue organizing, and the importance, of outreach and building face to face friendship and trust. Support the show

Episode 314 of RevolutionZ convey's an interview done before a large audience at MIT addressing the 1960s and now. What follows is a somewhat edited version of what an AI offered as a summary. From an unsuspecting student to a committed activist here are stories of how personal experiences and institutional dynamics paved the way for a lifetime of advocacy. From a fraternity with secrets as unsettling as bugging rooms and tapping phone calls to manipulate incoming Freshmen, to harboring fugitives and planning events and riots, plus anecdotes of intense meetings and strategic career offers, how do we deal with the moral and strategic dilemmas we face. Lessons learned from the strategic challenges faced by past and present leftist movements lead to discussing the left's "stickiness problem" and the need for the left to become more inclusive of working-class perspectives and leadership. Connecting the struggles of the 1960s with today's fight against fascism, this episode offers rich insights into the evolution of political engagement and the enduring need for viable, inclusive alternatives in our political landscape.Support the show

Episode 315 of RevolutionZ presents a detailed, wide-ranging assessment of recent changes and coming prospects in Syria as well as beyond, including Russia, Turkey, the United States, and Israel. Joseph Dahar critically challenges the anti-imperialist perspective that too often oversimplifies regional dynamics. Can a coalition of Syrians break free from Assad, fundamentalism, and external domination to create a democratic society? Finally, I draw some unexpected lessons for the United States.Support the show

Episode 313 of RevolutionZ continues to focus on resisting Trump and going beyond him to build better. It briefly shares feelings and fears that dog me and likely you too. It lays out three paths toward removing Trump. It offers a hypothesis about the potential impact of the first months of Trump's second administration. And it moves from the facts and the hypothesis it offers to a proposal about what we might do now. Along the way it also offers a way of thinking about Trump's voters that avoids writing them off, and a way of collectively resisting and beating Trump along with everyone who wants to resist that avoids becoming subservient to the  Democratic Party. Support the show

Episode 311 of RevolutionZ is not an election post-mortem. It is not about what went wrong. It is about what Trump is likely to do and what we can do to prevent his success. The episode takes up border policies, deportations, gender and reproductive rights, homelessness, healthcare, labor, ecology, repression, schools, media, military, and international relations--and a lot more. In each case, the episode considers what Trump is likely to pursue and what kinds of resistance can block his efforts. Succinct summaries are meant to assist and fuel thinking about  actions to undertake in the coming months. Put bluntly, the overarching message is that we can certainly do this, but if we don't, there will be hell to pay. Resignation and even angry by-standing are therefore not options. The kinds of activities described in the episode, however, are worthy options to consider. Support the show

Episode 310 of RevolutionZ asks what  drove millions of Americans to rally behind a figure as vile as Donald Trump? What attracted and held them despite so much that ought to have repulsed them? What can now stop Trump from implementing full-on fascist outcomes? Wtih Immigration policy as an example, how might activism subvert Trump's plans? And is there a way to simultaneously effectively communicate with the over half the voting electorate that supported Trump without compromising values and denying reality?Support the show

Ep 309 of RevolutionZ offers insights from an essay by over a hundred Palestinian, Arab American, Muslim, and progressive leaders in Arizona, takes a historical detour into the emergence of Nazism in Germany and its then U.S. echoes, considers the meaning of the label shill for the Democratic Party, considers Trump's voters, and post election communications. This is my last pre-election episode. Hopefully my next one, recorded once the tallies are tallied, will offer some comments on what happened and, dare I say it, on what (I think) is to be done. So what am I expecting from the election? I'd rather not speculate, but if I must, I would put 40% Trump will win a very close race, 40% Harris will win a very close race, and 20% and honestly, I think maybe more than that, that Harris will win quite comfortably, at least as these things go. Support the show

Episode 308 of RevolutionZ has as guest Norman Solomon to talk about election 2024. Does who is in the White House matter in general, and in this election? Is there contradiction or synergy between personal conscience and the broader ethical responsibilities of electoral decisions? Is voting for Harris in swing states not only how to beat Trump but also how to advance progressive post-election prospects in coming months and years and thus compatible with conscience for organizers--or is the better choice third party voting or abstention? What are the diverse motivations and thoughts of Trump supporters? How might organizers relate effectively with Trump's half of the voting population, and, for that matter, with Harris's half. Support the show

Episode 307 of RevolutionZ has Bill Fletcher Jr. applying lessons from his extensive labor and general activist organizing to discuss the real origins of Trumpism, conflicting approaches to the coming election, diverse broader strategies for change, how to address critics and who to not address at all, and much more. The exchange is passionate and also pointed at times. It emphasizes what is at stake in our current world and what people might most usefully do to make serious progress in these difficult times. Support the show

Episode 306 of RevolutionZ has as its guest Peter Bohmer to discuss Israeli and U.S. motives in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and more widely as well. It addresses past history and the present prospects, and particularly the global outrage genocidal policies have  provoked and calls for meaningful actions to effect real change via an arms embargo. The discussion carries into questions about the coming election, both party's strategies, and diverse voter sentiments. The episode is a call to remain engaged and offers a cautious optimism for the future while urging listeners to navigate the current political landscape thoughtfully.Support the show

Episode 304 of RevolutionZ is a bit unusual. Most of it poses more questions than answers. It moans "I don't get that," more than it proclaims "here is what is right about that." And what "thats' does it take up. Israeli and U.S. war making. Ecological suicide. Empathetic caring individuals supporting or turning a blind eye to genocide. The pervasive nature of deceit in our society from the normalization of "clickbait" culture in digital media to collective tolerance for and involvement in deception in daily life. Voting Green in contested states, or abstaining altogether, or supporting Trump. But then the episode ends with a dreamy positive formulation of of program. Support the show

Episode 303 of RevolutionZ again addresses the complex web of issues, and contending responses that have arisen regarding this coming presidential election in the U.S. How do we understand emerging views of various constituencies? What priorities in dealing with voting and organizing options until November and then after November make most sense or even any sense at all for those seeking a better society and world? Support the show

Episode 302 of RevolutionZ is titled The Olympics Paris and Beyond. Together, we uncover the complexities of the Olympics including the make-up and power of International Olympic Committee (IOC), who gets the billions generated through broadcasting rights and corporate partnerships, how cities are selected and the often rather horrible effects on them, and much more. We expand our focus to the situation of athletes more broadly, the dynamics of sports and competition per se, and finally on what is underway and possible to alter relations and outcomes for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and for sports more widely. The Olympics becomes a highly graphic case of corporate commercialization and profit seeking run wild even as it also contains instances of justice, human solidarity, and pursuit of excellence. Support the show

Ep 299 of RevolutionZ, the fourteenth in the Next American Revolution sequence has Andre Goldman, Reverend Stephen Du Bois, Bert Dillinger, and Lydia Luxembourg discuss RPS economic, ecological, and internationalist vision as well as internal and external criticisms of the emerging views and means of resolving such differences. They make a case for fundamental changes, discuss how the views of what to seek arose, how they were presented and received, and their importance for practical endeavors. The question hanging over it all is do their future lessons bear on our current realities?Support the Show.

Episode 287 of RevolutionZ has various interviewees describe to Miguel Guevara their debates and ensuing resolutions that arrived at RPS shared vision evan as they also steadfastly rejected sectarianism and rigid dogma. From Feyerabend's anything goes, to Chomsky's values are essential and enough, to RPS's we also need core institutional goals, to developing the latter for polity, kinship, and community, in this episode Guevara interrogates more of the Next American Revolution's experiences and lessons. Hear what these future revolutionaries thought and felt, what they did and what they chose to not do. Decide is their story plausible or fanciful? Could we follow our own version of their path into a better future? What would you change or retain? Is this fiction to make real? Reality to refine? Or what? Maybe my brief interjections while presenting it will help or irritate. Three more NAR episodes to come. Support the Show.

Ep 298 of RevolutionZ, welcomes Max Elbaum to discuss prospects and priorities following  Biden's  withdrawa, in light of Harris's momentum, with Trump's authoritarianism, and  continued genocidal Israeli policies. What's with U.S. foreign policy? How can we Stop Trump, address MAGA's rise, win a cease fire, and then continue forward? But, as well, how can we address ideological intolerance and class prejudice even inside the left? With cautious optimism for peaceful protests in Chicago, how do we enhance peace and social prospects until November and then beyond?Support the Show.

EP 296 of RevolutionZ and episode twelve of the Oral History of the Next American Revolution sequence reports on RPS's Second Convention's ups and downs and  the origin and implementation of a shadow government. Interviewees report how the national convention and subsequent shadow government were planned, assembled, and carried out. The interviewees take you fromorganizing's ethical dilemmas to the psychological and social impacts of activist choices, to the dynamics of new institution startup efforts within a corrupt, oppressive, society. Listen (and/or you can read on ZNet as well if you like) and then you can judge for yourself: Do Miguel's questions, Patti's, Malcom's, Lydia's, Bill's, and Barbara's answers, and even my interjections provide insights and inspiration applicable in our time, in our world? That is certainly their and my aim.Support the Show.

Ep 294 of RevolutionZ has for a return engagement as guest Evan Henshaw Plath, popularly known as Rabble. We talk about AI and society, first describing where we are now and how we got here, and then likely impacts on various sectors, from software development to music, and video generation. What is the role of training data? How intelligent can AI get? Will it attain AGI? Is there an existential threat? What are the more immediate social and ethical risks and rewards? What are AI researchers like? As a community, do they have cultural connections or even share a quasi religious culture? Do they have in mind more humane and equitable societies? Or is profit in command? Will AI be a tool that enhances life possibilities for people, or will people be infantilized by AI doing too much of what humans ought to do? Can the public impact the outcome?Support the Show.

Ep 293 of RevolutionZ is the tenth in the Oral History of the Next Next American Revolution Sequence. Miguel Guevara first interviews Alexandra Voline, Bill Hampton, and Lydia Luxemburg about  combating misogyny and gender hierarchies including feminist strategies for democratizing nurturing responsibilities achieving gender-neutral parenting. Then Cynthia Parks and Peter Cabral discuss with Miguel RPS's strategies to address racism and other cultural community hierarchies including how RPS schools for organizers foster an environment of trust and positive energy and various campaigns around community control of police. Finally Emiliano Feynman and Anton Rocker discuss class issues including recounting  experiences of the great Amazon sit-down strike and the national campaigns to reduce the workday and workweek as well as the challenges of bridging working class coordinator divides.Support the Show.

Ep 291 of RevolutionZ discusses RPS organizing in the areas of film and sport. Celia Curie and Peter Cabral respond to Miguel Guevara as they move their focuses from rape to revolution with an oscar and governorship in between and from baseball to, again, revolution, with diverse organizing projects in between. How does support by participants in these fields develop? What resistance to becoming active arise? How are they addressed and overcome? What changes in people and in relations emerge? This episode delves into the dynamics of these two areas of life and their transformation during the development of the movements of the next American revolution. The means is personal stories of work in the areas, organizing the areas, and conflicts in the areas...all presented to further advance  Guevara's Oral History of The Next American Revolution.... Support the Show.

In Episode 290 of RevolutionZ, the seventh in the Oral History of the Next American Revolution Sequence, Lydia Luxemburg and Bert Dellinger discuss ideas, values, self management, diversity, flexibility, and various institutional practices of Revolutionary Participatory Society including their own very personal. reactions and experiences ranging from Lydia's 1960s to Bert 2000s and into RPS's early years years. They answer Miguel Guevara who asks how various revolutionary ideas attracted them to participate in RPS and then how those ideas impacted RPS's emergence and trajectory. They are big topics of important times and perhaps they convey useful possibilities for our own future, supposing we want a new world--not only instead of this world, but more likely, instead of no world.. So, again, this is not a short session. But why am I messing about with an oh so long fictional account of a fictional future? Well, before embarking on this episode, I shoved in this little spontaneous rant I primal screamed the day after the recent Supreme Court ruling  Before Miguel begins, I just have to ask, am I missing something? What is to now prevent Biden from, I don't know, jailing Trump, or firing most of the Supreme Court, or nationalizing Tesla or the whole pharmaceutical industry, or, hey, shutting down fossil fuel, or doing whatever else on behalf of we who are alive now and, more so, on behalf of those who would in that case thrive rather than suffocate or melt in the future?If there really is a God, surely at this point she'd intervene. Or perhaps her power went to her head….do gods even have heads? If the current trajectory persists, we used to have a saying dating way back to the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Bend over, put your head between your legs, and kiss your ass goodbye. Hmm, I'd prefer to win a new world—right after preventing this one from self immolating. And so, here is Miguel's first question for Lydia...Support the Show.

Episode 289 of RevolutionZ is the sixth episode in the Oral History of the Next American Revolution Sequence. In it Barbara Bethune, Emiliano Feynman, Bill Hampton, Cynthia Parks, Harriet Lennon, and Anton Rocker discuss the initial emergence and pursuit of various strands of RPS activism including health, transport, housing, rights to the city, minimum wage, and workplace focuses. In each realm participants discuss the oppressions addressed but more so the strategies and the emotional problems encountered and steps taken to keep moving forward. As you can probably tell from the unexpected length -- it took me by surprise too --- this episode covers a lot more ground, as well bicycle campaigns to shorter work week and friction and play along the way. The interviewees put their experiences into words. Miguel Guevara elicits their words with his questions. Finally, I convey those words and also question or expand on them a bit as your host for this trip. If you find the time, drop me a line to let me know your reactions, or better yet, you might visit ZNetwork.org where you can read the text and also partake of discussions in the ZNet Discord system. Support the Show.

Episode 288 of RevolutionZ is the Fifth in our Next American Revolution Sequence that presents an Oral History of, well, a future revolution as recounted by its participants. Another long episode, it focuses on building RPS chapters and the personal, interpersonal, and programmatic issues that arose after the convention. The discussion emphasizes the importance of avoiding insularity by continually reaching out and  describes strategic efforts made to include influential campus figures able to broaden outreach as Bill Hampton, Cynthia Parks, and Andre Goldman discuss immediately post convention vision, structure, and program, and particularly how they went about creating local chapters. Support the Show.

Episode 287 of RevolutionZ is the fourth presenting An Oral History of the Next American Revolution. How did informed hope plus strategic activism merge into a new organization, Revolutionary Participatory Society, and inform its first convention? Here is what an AI spit out as its proposed summary of this episode: "Join us on this compelling episode of Revolution Z, where we dissect the elements necessary for sustainable activism through the lenses of pivotal characters like Andre Goldman, Bill Hampton, Senator Malcolm King, and Cynthia Parks. By reflecting on the fleeting revolutionary fervor of Paris 1968 and comparing it to the modern efforts for a Revolutionary Participatory Society (RPS), we uncover how informed hope can propel revolutionary progress. Through historical context and personal stories, we explore how these elements are interwoven with fostering enduring social movements.Hear Bill Hampton recount an unforgettable encounter at a sanctuary for immigrants in San Antonio, Texas, which forever altered his path towards radical activism. What does it take to stand in solidarity in the face of brutality? As Bill shares his experience of linking arms with a congregation against violent police attempts to deport immigrant families, we delve into the deeper implications of compassion and unity in activism. We also spotlight the strategic importance of welcoming marginalized communities into public spaces and reallocating resources from militarization to social welfare, underscoring the power of grassroots organizing and mutual aid.Lastly, embrace the transformative journeys of activists like Cynthia and Miguel, who reveal the psychological and internal barriers that often hinder social change. Through candid dialogues and reflections, we explore the resilience required to overcome personal doubts and fears of failure. From the first RPS convention to the creation of multi-issue organizations, this episode captures the essence of building collective resistance and solidarity. Tune in to discover how profound societal transformation begins with a unified vision and the courage to confront both external and inner adversities." The AI is actually an in-built part of the platform I use to post and distribute RevolutionZ episodes. When I upload a file, like the one for this episode, the AI whirrs a bit and then proposes five possible titles, a description such as this one, a transcript, and I think some other stuff too. Others celebrate this kind of instant "assistance." It makes me a bit ill. So I think soon I will do another episode about AI, to add to those I did some time back, but still think relevant. At any rate, I hope you will give this episode and this whole NAR sequence a chance. It is pure vision and strategy, albeit I hope at least somewhat engagingly and emotively "packaged," and as such, I would think, indeed I would hope, it would warrant critique or support, extension or correction, whichever suits you, but not nothing.  I even tried a bit of clickbait in the title, not untrue, and not, say: "Blood flowed, Tears Spilt, Baggage Jettisoned, Next American Revolution Taxis for Take-Off. " but nonetheless a bit more punchy than usual.Support the Show.

Episode 285 of RevolutionZ, the third in the Next American Revolution sequence, has future revolutionaries Senator Malcolm King and Andre Goldman discuss with Miguel Guevara their experience of their world's 2016 electoral campaign and followup. They address Sanders' incredible impact, Clinton's and the Democrat's machinations, the moral, personal, and practical dilemmas of strategic voting, the multifaceted appeal and impact of Trump, the complexities of third-party politics, and more. They reveal some of the precursor thoughts that helped lead to the emergence, growth, and success of Revolutionary Participatory Society or RPS. RevolutionZ host, Michael Albert, channels the interviews by Guevara for your listening and also interjects, as well, some comments, criticisms, and clarifications along the way.Support the Show.

Ep 286 of RevolutionZ has Evan Henshaw Plath, also known as Rabble, a visionary technologist with personal roots in developing Indymedia and even Twitter. He replays the history, logic, and implications of social media from its root democratic and participatory  intentions to its corporatization and erosion of privacy and meaningful engagement. Plath takes us, as I suspect few if any others could, from the shift from social media's early, open protocols to the centralized corporations like Twitter and Facebook that came to dominate. He then explains his ongoing quest to reclaim the decentralized spirit of the web including working on modern advancements like Nostr, and his current adaptation called Nos.social. Reflecting on historical movements like Indymedia and Occupy Wall Street, Plath emphasizes the need for autonomous spaces that support radical change and envisages the potential of independent, decentralized, privacy-focused platforms. He also discusses possible  sustainable funding of these independent platforms, underscoring a needed shift from owners and consumers to co-creators and the vital role of community collaboration. RevolutionZ listeners will likely know the depth of my antipathy for social media as usually encountered. So I hope you will listen and wind up feeling as I do, that  Plath's new project, Nos.social, is  well worth our attention and support.Support the Show.

Episode 284 of RevolutionZ  presents chapter two (of fourteen) of An Oral History of the Next American Revolution. It relates personal precursors of revolutionary participatory society through the life experiences of  interviewees Alexandra Voline, Andre Goldman, and Senator Malcolm King who  discuss with their interviewer,  Miguel Guevara, all from their own world their personal trajectories into activism including the first major march, the early gun and militarism boycotts, overcoming early resistance and doubt,  achieving early momentum, and much much more on the road to forming and working toward Revolutionary Participatory Society in the U.S. And yes, that is a whole lot which is why this episode is by far the longest so far at four minutes under two hours.  (See the long list of topics below -- to get them, I skimmed the earlier article on ZNet, excerpt two of the serialization and grabbed here and there. It could have gone on and on...lives are big things and so is revolution....)Support the Show.

Episode 283 of RevolutionZ, An Oral History of A Next American Revolution is the first epsode of what hopes to be a Sequence of 14 episodes based on excerpts from a book in progress in which Miguel Guevara interviews 18 revolutionaries from from a future parallel earth that is shifted 28 years forward from our own earth. The text excerpts will be published earlier in each week that each audio episode appears. The audio RevolutionZ episodes include the text material plus spontaneous reactions to it including questions, criticisms, elaborations, and clarifications that I deliver on my first hearing the material. This week has a foreword to the book by your RevolutionZ host, an introduction by Miguel Guevara the book's co-author, plus the book's first chapter which features a look forward to just after inauguration day 2048, plus many host interjections. What is the point of such a strange and risky project? To provide for discussion, evaluation, and refinement a realistic account of a possible next American Revolution's aims, methods, .and lessons as discerned by a set of its very prominent and effective participants. Support the Show.

In Episode 282 of RevolutionZ, Alex Han,  of In These Times, addresses the current  surge, aims, and prospects of both labor and student activism and their possible intersection, as well as media responses and prospects. We discuss union bargaining strategies including and going beyond contract issues, campus organization and tactics, and urge the need to break down barriers between independent media outlets to forge a more strategically unified left media ecosystem. Support the Show.

Episode 281 of RevolutionZ has Avi Chomsky as guest to discuss current  campus  and community activism, colonialism, nation states, immigration, borders,  lessons from Central America and the Global South, and the role of students, labor, and religious organizations in sustaining resistance. We consider the logical and emotional innards of dissent, where strategic pursuit of immediate relief intersects with a longer term quest for societal transformation.Support the Show.