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Varn Vlog

C. Derick Varn

Abandon all hope ye who subscribe here. Varn Vlog is the pod of C. Derick Varn. We combine the conversation on philosophy, political economy, art, history, culture, anthropology, and geopolitics from a left-wing and culturally informed perspective. We approach the world from a historical lens with an eye for hard truths and structural analysis.

 

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  • Avg 1 hr 41 min
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  • S2 · E94
    Monday · 1 hr 20 min

    Rewriting Columbus From The Taino View with Andrew Rowen

    Why does mainstream history completely erase the stories of the Indigenous leaders who actively fought back against European conquest? How did the fluid, complex politics of the Caribbean reshape global history long before the fall of the Aztecs and Incas ? In this episode of Varn Vlog, we sit down with historical researcher and novelist Andrew Rowen to explore the unsparing, bicultural reality of ground zero in the Americas. Andrew Rowen has spent over a decade parsing through dense anthropological records and reading between the lines of heavily biased Spanish primary sources to reconstruct the authentic perspective of the Taino people. In this deep-dive conversation, Andrew illuminates the life of Anacaona—a shrewd, competent ruler, poetess, and the first female Native American chieftain to resist the Spanish conquest. We explore her brilliant and tragic political strategies of separate coexistence, tracking how her chiefdom leveraged food logistics and made uneasy alliances with Spanish mutineers to stave off total annihilation. We also turn the lens toward the European side of the equation, dissecting the conflicting motivations of Christopher Columbus and Queen Isabella. Rowen traces Isabella’s internal journey of conscience regarding the enslavement of her Indigenous "vassals," , contrast to the craven extraction methods of the commoner conquistadors who disobeyed her orders to establish the roots of centuries-long forced labor networks like repartimiento and encomienda. Finally, we confront the raw data behind the catastrophic Indigenous population collapse—sorting through the realities of forced gold mining slavery and the merciless spread of European diseases like smallpox and typhus . If you want an objective, unromanticized framework for how the transatlantic world was truly forged, this bicultural breakdown is an absolute must-watch. Explore Andrew Rowen's acclaimed historical novel series (Encounters Unforeseen, Columbus and the Caonabó, and Isabel Anacaona and Columbus's Demise) on AndrewRowen.com! Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E93
    August 17 · 2 hr 10 min

    Geopolitics of the Data Economy: Tech Monopoly, Neoliberalism, Resource Wars with ProleKult

    Why are tech monopolies quietly building massive, "war-eating" data centers in global deserts? How does the infrastructure of artificial intelligence directly intersect with resource imperialism, greenwashing, and active combat zones? In this episode of Varn Vlog, James of Prole Kult fame joins us to unpack the terrifying realities of the modern geopolitical and tech economy. We kick off the conversation with a critical look at the stark environmental and spatial trade-offs of the digital age. From the accursed, floating isles of the UK to the arid deserts of the American West, tech oligarchs are accelerating a resource-extraction blueprint that threatens local ecosystems. James breaks down the material underpinnings of the AI bubble, explaining how immense computational demands require unprecedented amounts of water, electricity, and land, driving a new wave of localized climate strains and energy centralization. Moving beyond infrastructure, we dive into the dark alignment between big tech logistics, state power, and global conflicts. We trace how military occupations and modern surveillance networks are increasingly trial-tested on marginalized populations before being automated and scaled globally. James also highlights powerful counter-narratives of resistance, detailing the profound human cost of ongoing blockades, historical violence, and the generational struggle for liberation. Whether you are trying to understand the macroeconomic traps of corporate tech monopolies or seeking an unsparing analysis of how digital architecture enforces modern imperial hegemony, this raw and wide-ranging discussion is an essential guide. ✨ Check out the Prole Kult channel for deep-dive video essays exploring history, technology, and global political economy! Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E92
    August 13 · 1 hr 27 min

    Brandon Lightly on the Mass LIne and New Democracy, Part 2

    In part two of our deep dive into China (and part four of our socialist organization series), we break down how Mao attempted to dialectically sublate a national front and a united front. We explore the structural inclusion of the "patriotic national bourgeoisie" into the block of four classes (symbolized by the stars on the Chinese flag) and contrast it with classical Soviet developmental theory and orthodox Marxism. We also dive into: - The historical debate between Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao, Lenin, and Trotsky. - Why modern "Hoxhaists" and Left Communists consider New Democracy to be revisionist. - The evolution of class structures under Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin's "Three Represents" doctrine (allowing billionaires into the Party). - The reality of modern China's development: Is it a transitioning socialist project, or an hyper-competent form of state capitalism and developmental liberalism? Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for Episode 5, where we pivot to National Frontism and National Bolshevism. Journal Articles Dirlik, A. (1970). The ideological foundations of the Chinese Revolution. Journal of Contemporary History, 5(3), 39–54. Dittmer, L. (1977). Line struggle: Notes on its organizational context and theoretical development. Modern China, 3(3), 303–312. Fogel, J. A. (1980). Ai Siqi, establishment intellectual by Joshua A. Fogel. Modern China, 6(1), 23–47. Hammond, E. R. (1978). Marxism and the mass line [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Berkeley]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Korolev, A. (2017). De-ideologized mass line, regime responsiveness, and state-society relations. China Review, 17(2), 7–36. Lyman, S. V. (1970). The Chinese Communist Party in the United Front, 1937–1945 [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Berkeley]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Mazur, M. G. (1995). The United Front of the 1940s: A social and cultural perspective. Modern China, 21(4), 431–456. Selden, M. (1971). The Yenan Way in revolutionary China. The China Quarterly, (45), 263–294. Steiner, H. A. (1951). Current mass line tactics in Communist China. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 277(1), 422–436. Teiwes, F. C. (1978). The origins of rectification: Inner-party purgation in the 1930s. The China Quarterly, (74), 181–201. Tokuda, N. (1971). The mass line during the Yenan period. The China Quarterly, (47), 1–18. Townsend, J. R. (1967). Political participation in Communist China. University of California Press. Womack, B. (1980). The phase of de-Maoization in China. China Report, 16(1), 7–21. Womack, B. (1991). Mao Zedong and the sinification of Marxism. The China Quarterly, (126), 1–15. Young, G. (1980). On New Democracy and the transition to socialism. Modern China, 6(1), 3–22. Books & Primary Sources Coble, P. M. (2023). The collapse of Nationalist China: How Chiang Kai-shek lost China’s civil war. Cambridge University Press. Elbaum, M. (2018). Revolution in the air: Sixties radicals turn to Lenin, Mao and Che. Verso Books. Hirata, K. (2024). Making Mao’s steelworks: Industrial Manchuria and the transnational origins of Chinese socialism. Cambridge University Press. Karl, R. E. (2010). Mao Zedong and China in the twentieth-century world: A concise history. Duke University Press. Li, H. (2024). Fighting on the cultural front: U.S.-China relations in the Cold War. Columbia University Press. Lin, C. (2019). Mass line. In C. Sorace, I. Franceschini, & N. Loubere (Eds.), Afterlives of Chinese Communism: Political concepts from Mao to Xi (p. 122). ANU Press. Lovell, J. (2019). Maoism: A global history. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Lowe, D. M. (1966). The function of "China" in Marx, Lenin, and Mao. University of California Press. Mao, Z. (1940). On New Democracy. Marxists Internet Archive. Mao, Z. (1977). A critique of Soviet economics. Monthly Review Press. Moufawad-Paul, J. (2016). Continuity and rupture: Philosophy in the Maoist terrain. Zero Books. Schram, S. R. (Ed.). (2005). Mao’s road to power: Revolutionary writings 1912–1949: Vol. VII. New Democracy, 1939–1941. M.E. Sharpe. Zheng, Q. (Ed.). (2020). An ideological history of the Communist Party of China (Vol. 2) (L. Sun & S. Bryant, Trans.). Royal Collins Publishing Group. Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E91
    August 10 · 2 hr 25 min

    Writing and Revolution: Cultural Production vs. Neoliberal Aesthetics with Sudip Bhattacharya

    How does ruling-class hegemony quietly dictate the boundaries of our creative imagination? Can art still serve as a weapon for genuine political transformation, or has it been entirely neutralized by capitalist realism? In this episode of Varn Vlog, regular guest Sudip Bhattacharya returns to dissect the profound relationship between literature, cultural production, and power. We begin the conversation by addressing contemporary cultural blockages before zooming out to analyze the structural landscape of modern storytelling. Drawing from deep Marxist theory, Gramscian notions of cultural hegemony, and literary criticism, Sudip maps out how the contemporary publishing industry and academic creative writing spaces systematically steer writers away from systemic, macro-level critiques. Instead, modern narratives are frequently flattened into hyper-individualized, therapeutic accounts of trauma that accommodate—rather than challenge—the status quo. We also dive into the concept of "combat literature" and revolutionary writing. Together, we examine how radical movements historically utilized the novel, the essay, and the poem to construct counter-hegemonic worldviews. Sudip shares insights from his own work on writing and revolution, parsing how artists can break free from neoliberal aesthetic traps to revitalize an art form capable of genuinely imagining alternative futures. Whether you are an aspiring writer, a student of critical theory, or someone deeply invested in the intersection of radical politics and art, this wide-ranging dialogue offers an indispensable framework for navigating cultural production today. ✨ Read more of Sudip Bhattacharya’s essays on his Substack, featuring deep dives into combat literature and the mechanics of writing and revolution!: https://sudipbhattacharya.substack.com/ Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E90
    August 6 · 3 hr 39 min

    The Cultural Marxism Myth with A.J.A. Woods

    Where did the "Cultural Marxism" talking point actually originate? How did obscure 20th-century sectarian group battles evolve into the foundation of today's right-wing culture wars? In this episode of Varn Vlog, we sit down with Dr. A.J.A. Woods to dissect the bizarre, interconnected history of political paranoia, conspiracy culture, and the weaponization of critical theory. Dr. Woods—a PhD graduate from the Centre for the Study of Theory and Criticism—joins the show to trace the genealogical lineages outlined in his book, The Cultural Marxist Conspiracy: Why the Right Blames the Frankfurt School for the Decline of the West. Together, we map how legitimate left-wing internal critiques of figures like Herbert Marcuse and Theodor Adorno were absorbed, rebranded, and mainlined into mainstream conservative media by the LaRouche movement, William S. Lind, and eventually Andrew Breitbart. We pull back the curtain on how these highly elaborate historical myths function as porous, left-right feedback loops. From the "Plato vs. Aristotle" secret histories of the 1970s to contemporary discussions surrounding "wokeness," Alexander Dugin, James Lindsay, and Jordan Peterson, we unpack how social media algorithms flatten intellectual nuances to spawn a new generation of conspiratorial thinking. Finally, we address the "Radical Chic" commodity of theory in academia, the historical distortion of Antonio Gramsci’s Prison Notebooks, and why the left's fixation on policing external myths often comes at the expense of addressing its own structural organizing failures. ✨ Check out Dr. A.J.A. Woods' work and grab his book to explore the full intellectual history of modern political myths! Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E89
    August 3 · 1 hr 22 min

    A People’s History of the Mets: Urban Planning, Labor, and Radical Politics with A.M. Gittlitz

    Why are the New York Mets the ultimate team of the working-class underworld? Author A.M. Gittlitz joins the channel to discuss his new book, Metropolitans, and pitch why leftists should actually care about sports. In this episode, we dive deep into the Mobius strip dynamic of sports, mass culture, and radical politics. Far from just a corporate monopoly, baseball has a long history as a battleground for popular power and control over our collective leisure time. We trace the lineage of the Mets from their 19th-century amateur roots through the turbulent 1960s, exploring how the team became an anti-elitist symbol coded in direct opposition to the financial elites of the New York Yankees. We also unpack the dark side of New York’s urban planning. Discover how "Master Builder" Robert Moses manipulated transit infrastructure around Shea Stadium to intentionally cut off public access from marginalized communities—shaping the geography of fandom we still inherit today. Whether you're a die-hard Mets fan or a Marxist skeptic of mass sports, this conversation breaks down the beautiful contradictions of a middle-class game captured by billionaires Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E88
    July 27 · 2 hr 32 min

    Cold War Cinema — History, Propaganda, and Left-Wing Film Analysis with Jason Christian & Tony Ballas

    How did decades of geopolitical paranoia, nuclear anxiety, and state-sponsored propaganda completely reshape the landscape of global filmmaking? In this episode of Varn Vlog, we dive deep into the intersection of history and film with Jason Christian and Tony Ballas, the hosts of the Cold War Cinema podcast. From Hollywood blockbusters and hidden indie gems to the stark cinematic outputs of the Soviet bloc and divided Germany, our guests break down how the global standoff between capitalism and communism played out on the silver screen. We discuss the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways governments weaponized art for ideological subversion, the lingering psychological weight of the nuclear age on directors, and how the tropes established during the Cold War continue to dictate modern media narratives today. We also explore the unique challenges of analyzing historical film through a critical, left-wing lens, sorting through the layers of censorship, blacklisting, and cultural memory that still distort how we view mid-century art. Whether you are a hardcore cinephile, a history buff, or a casual fan of classic cinema, this deep-dive conversation offers a fascinating look at the movies that defined an era. ✨ Check out the Cold War Cinema podcast on all major audio platforms to explore their full catalog of film analyses!: https://coldwarcinema.com/ Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E87
    July 23 · 1 hr 19 min

    Gerontocracy in America: Samuel Moyn on Aging Wealth and Shifting Power

    Welcome back to the Vlog. Today, we are joined by acclaimed legal scholar and historian Dr. Samuel Moyn (Chancellor Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale University) to discuss his critical book, Gerontocracy in America. While the public focus on modern gerontocracy often centers on the visible, late-stage cognitive decline of celebrity politicians like Joe Biden or Donald Trump, Dr. Moyn argues that these figures are merely the tip of a much deeper, structural iceberg. The real-world data demonstrates that our entire legal, economic, and institutional architecture has been intentionally engineered since the 1970s to entrench an elder caste and restrict succession for the prime-age working class. In this interview, we break down the explicit mechanics of this generational system: The Inverted Demographic Pyramid: How changes in medicine and declining birth weights have historically squared the old population curves, concentrating absolute power within an aging, self-perpetuating class. Constitutional Architecture & Veto Points: How the framers explicitly engineered the U.S. Constitution to blunt majoritarian democracy—imposing strict age minimums that historically excluded 80% of the population, and cementing lifetime tenure for federal judges. The Housing & Tax Trap: How the destruction of the intergenerational home has led to acute, geographic age segregation. We analyze why elderly voters routinely assemble at town meetings to block new housing supply and pass local laws (like California's Prop 13) to permanently immunize real estate assets from funding the public education of younger generations. The "Grand Bargain" Solution: Dr. Moyn outlines his provocative, counterintuitive policy path forward: establishing mandatory retirement caps, re-regulating campaign finance, and providing total state-funded long-term care in exchange for a massive, structural taxation on aging wealth to fund youth opportunities. The Critique of Progressive Care: A macro-analysis of why the contemporary Left has abandoned its 19th-century commitment to creative dynamism and material freedom, retreating instead into a technocratic, namby-pamby moralism centered solely on managing a civilized decline. Dr. Samuel Moyn's book, Gerontocracy in America, is available now across all major bookstore divisions. Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E86
    July 20 · 2 hr 31 min

    Why Jordan Peterson is Wrong About Jung with Rob Faure Walker

    Why are so many political activists crashing into severe burnout and depression? Can the deep psychology of Carl Jung provide a radical toolkit for modern survival without retreating from the fight? In this episode of Varnblog, we sit down with ecotherapist and author Rob Faure Walker to deconstruct his groundbreaking book, Radical Jung . We dive into a mind-bending exploration bridging the Marxist radical imagination with Jungian analytical psychology. Rob shares his personal journey through school teacher union organizing, severe activist burnout, and finding spiritual navigation via dream integration and Gnostic texts. Together, we unpack how modern capitalism has become truly nihilistic, why mainstream psychoanalysis often defaults to isolationist individualism, and how right-wing figures like Jordan Peterson have weaponized and essentialized Jungian concepts on hierarchy and gender . Furthermore, we explore the terrifying intersections of state power, counter-extremism governmentality , and how billionaire techno-oligarchs like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Mark Zuckerberg project their own "shadow of privilege" onto marginalized groups while building automated survival bunkers and centralizing control . If you are looking for a deeper psychological toolkit to understand the algorithm's control over our unconscious mind , structural political failure , and the path toward true recovery , this deep-dive conversation is for you. ✨ Grab Rob Faure Walker’s new book, Radical Jung, out now from Revo Press! Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E85
    July 16 · 1 hr 51 min

    Brandon Lightly on the Mass Line and New Democracy, Part 1

    In this episode of VarnVlog, we are joined by Brandon Lightly to discuss the complex and often misunderstood history of Maoism. We dive deep into the theoretical underpinnings of the "mass line" and "new democracy," exploring how these concepts served as an internal critique of Marxism and a departure from Soviet-style bureaucracy. Key Topics Covered: Defining the Mass Line: Is it just populism, or a sophisticated leadership feedback loop? The Historical Origins: From the Hunan Report to the Long March and the second United Front. Theoretical Innovations: Mao’s 1961 critique of Joseph Stalin and the rejection of the "Great Man" theory of history. Fragmentation: Why there are so many different Maoist tendencies (MLM, MIM, Third Worldism). Praxis: The rectification movement and the relationship between urban intellectuals and the rural peasantry. Journal Articles Dirlik, A. (1970). The ideological foundations of the Chinese Revolution. Journal of Contemporary History, 5(3), 39–54. Dittmer, L. (1977). Line struggle: Notes on its organizational context and theoretical development. Modern China, 3(3), 303–312. Fogel, J. A. (1980). Ai Siqi, establishment intellectual by Joshua A. Fogel. Modern China, 6(1), 23–47. Hammond, E. R. (1978). Marxism and the mass line [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Berkeley]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Korolev, A. (2017). De-ideologized mass line, regime responsiveness, and state-society relations. China Review, 17(2), 7–36. Lyman, S. V. (1970). The Chinese Communist Party in the United Front, 1937–1945 [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Berkeley]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Mazur, M. G. (1995). The United Front of the 1940s: A social and cultural perspective. Modern China, 21(4), 431–456. Selden, M. (1971). The Yenan Way in revolutionary China. The China Quarterly, (45), 263–294. Steiner, H. A. (1951). Current mass line tactics in Communist China. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 277(1), 422–436. Teiwes, F. C. (1978). The origins of rectification: Inner-party purgation in the 1930s. The China Quarterly, (74), 181–201. Tokuda, N. (1971). The mass line during the Yenan period. The China Quarterly, (47), 1–18. Townsend, J. R. (1967). Political participation in Communist China. University of California Press. Womack, B. (1980). The phase of de-Maoization in China. China Report, 16(1), 7–21. Womack, B. (1991). Mao Zedong and the sinification of Marxism. The China Quarterly, (126), 1–15. Young, G. (1980). On New Democracy and the transition to socialism. Modern China, 6(1), 3–22. Books & Primary Sources Coble, P. M. (2023). The collapse of Nationalist China: How Chiang Kai-shek lost China’s civil war. Cambridge University Press. Elbaum, M. (2018). Revolution in the air: Sixties radicals turn to Lenin, Mao and Che. Verso Books. Hirata, K. (2024). Making Mao’s steelworks: Industrial Manchuria and the transnational origins of Chinese socialism. Cambridge University Press. Karl, R. E. (2010). Mao Zedong and China in the twentieth-century world: A concise history. Duke University Press. Li, H. (2024). Fighting on the cultural front: U.S.-China relations in the Cold War. Columbia University Press. Lin, C. (2019). Mass line. In C. Sorace, I. Franceschini, & N. Loubere (Eds.), Afterlives of Chinese Communism: Political concepts from Mao to Xi (p. 122). ANU Press. Lovell, J. (2019). Maoism: A global history. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Lowe, D. M. (1966). The function of "China" in Marx, Lenin, and Mao. University of California Press. Mao, Z. (1940). On New Democracy. Marxists Internet Archive. Mao, Z. (1977). A critique of Soviet economics. Monthly Review Press. Moufawad-Paul, J. (2016). Continuity and rupture: Philosophy in the Maoist terrain. Zero Books. Schram, S. R. (Ed.). (2005). Mao’s road to power: Revolutionary writings 1912–1949: Vol. VII. New Democracy, 1939–1941. M.E. Sharpe. Zheng, Q. (Ed.). (2020). An ideological history of the Communist Party of China (Vol. 2) (L. Sun & S. Bryant, Trans.). Royal Collins Publishing Group. Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E84
    July 13 · 1 hr 11 min

    Screened Realities and the Complicit Lens: Robin Andersen on Media Complicity in Gaza and Beyond

    While the atrocities in Palestine and Gaza have been live-streamed by courageous on-the-ground journalists, American legacy media have operated in an entirely different reality. Dr. Andersen details how establishment journalism has actively abandoned baseline standards of accuracy and fairness to echo fabricated atrocity propaganda and shield the state of Israel from accountability. In this interview, we break down the explicit mechanics of this media complicity: The New York Times Bureau Bias: How the "paper of record" has historically staffed its Jerusalem bureau with known Zionists and activists whose families actively serve in the IDF. We discuss the biostructural compromise of the bureau physically operating out of a home stolen from a Palestinian family during the Nakba. Leaked Style Guides & Directives: A look into the newsroom directives leaked to The Intercept that formally banned journalists from using core factual terms like "occupied territories," "refugee camps," "massacre," or "genocide". Weaponized Passive Voice: How headlines use phrases like "aid-related deaths" or "explosions" to describe situations where Israeli soldiers actively shot starving civilians or bombed densely populated neighborhoods like Jabalia. Billionaire Capture & Digital Suppression: The chilling effects of doxxing groups like the Canary Mission on university campuses, and the corporate takeover of networks like CBS by tech moguls implementing top-down Zionist editorial overrides. Dr. Robin Andersen's book, The Complicit Lens, features an introduction by Rashid Khalidi and is available now directly from OR Books. Like, subscribe, drop a comment, and protect your peace. To support independent, commercial-free media analysis, join our community on Patreon at patreon.com/varnvlog. Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E83
    July 9 · 1 hr 8 min

    Real Internationalism: Inside the RAIZ International Project

    In this special episode, we are doing something a little different by introducing an urgent, concrete internationalist political project. We are joined by two representatives affiliated with RAIZ International. To protect the sensitive nature of their organizing on the ground, we have tailored this conversation to focus on their overarching strategic goals and material outlook without endangering any ongoing local initiatives. RAIZ International rejects the dominant trend of contemporary Western "solidarity," which often reduces internationalism to hollow press releases, moralistic posturing, or aesthetic digital templates. Instead, RAIZ operates on a model of concrete internationalism—rooting its efforts in the actual relations of production, global displacement patterns, and working-class organization. We discuss the material realities of their focus areas: The Colombian Context: Navigating the complex aftermath of displacement, land conflicts, and regional state violence, and tracing how those struggles connect directly back to Western imperialism and transnational resource extraction. The Migrant Labor Pipeline: How global capital forces displacement from the Global South into the centers of Europe, turning vulnerable migrants into hyper-exploited labor pools. Building Independent Working-Class Power: How RAIZ coordinates across borders to offer material support, link regional organizing struggles, and establish durable counter-institutions that empower workers directly rather than funneling them into state-vetted NGOs. If you are listening from Europe and hear about RAIZ initiatives or their upcoming speaking tour through local newsletters or radical community spaces, we highly encourage you to attend an event, stop by, and get involved. This is how we begin building a concrete, internationalist future with a real revolutionary outlook. Project Links & Fundraising Official Website: https://www.raizinternational.org/ Fundraising Tour Support: https://chuffed.org/project/gira-venceremos Support our analysis on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/varnvlog Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E82
    July 6 · 46 min

    Grade Scandals, Bureaucracy, and the Truth About the Teacher Shortage with Chris Papst

    Why are public school budgets skyrocketing while student proficiency scores tank? How do districts artificially inflate graduation rates while leaving children entirely illiterate? In this episode of Varnblog, we sit down with Emmy award-winning investigative journalist Chris Papst to uncover the disturbing reality exposed in his new book, Failure Factory. For nearly a decade, Chris Papst and his team at Project Baltimore have investigated the deep-seated corruption, administration failures, and academic integrity issues within the Baltimore public school system. In this eye-opening conversation, Chris breaks down why Baltimore encapsulates a playbook used by major urban school districts across the United States to prioritize funding over educational outcomes. We pull back the curtain on shocking grade-changing scandals, the erasure of standardized testing, and the systematic hiding of school violence data to avoid "persistently dangerous" labels. Chris also explains the toxic structural mechanics that are driving real educators out of the profession, revealing that the nationwide teacher shortage is a direct symptom of unmanageable classroom conditions and a total lack of administrative discipline enforcement. If you are a parent, taxpayer, or educator looking to understand how the bureaucratic state manipulates public education, this breakdown of the "50% rule" and institutional data juking is essential listening. ✨ Order Chris Papst’s book, Failure Factory: How Baltimore City Public Schools Deprive Taxpayers and Students of a Future, available now! Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E81
    July 2 · 1 hr 29 min

    Solidarity or Silence?: How Leftist Politics Often Overlooks the Disabled with Anthony David Vernon

    This podcast and YouTube episode features an in-depth conversation with Anthony David Vernon, a philosopher and educator, exploring the intersection of disability studies, left-wing politics, and the systemic failures of accessibility in a post-pandemic world. The discussion challenges the "normative" framework of society, examining how both civic institutions and political movements often fail to truly incorporate the voices and needs of the disabled community. Key Discussion Highlights The ADA and the "Checkmark" Problem: Vernon argues that because the ADA is enforced primarily through personal lawsuits and remains largely unfunded, it often results in "checkmark" compliance rather than true accessibility. The Post-Pandemic Erasure: The conversation explores how the rush to move past COVID-19 safety measures has prioritized "normative desires" over the accessibility needs of high-risk and disabled individuals. Multimodality as Justice: Implementing "ready-made" scaffolding and multiple points of entry into education and digital spaces benefits all learners, not just those with a formal diagnosis. Referenced Works (APA Format) Albers, B. (2022). Able-bodied leftists cannot abandon disabled solidarity to move on from COVID. Truthout. https://truthout.org/articles/abled-bodied-leftists-cannot-abandon-disabled-solidarity-to-move-on-from-covid/ Data for Progress. (2023, October 3). Disabled voters do not believe politicians care about disabled Americans. https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2023/10/3/disabled-voters-do-not-believe-politicians-care-about-disabled-americans Hryhorec, S. (2025, October 26). LET ME IN: Mark Butler’s office isn’t accessible [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEfbZzCspDk Iacoboni, G. (2023). Why politics is failing disabled people and what to do about it. Independent Social Research Foundation (ISRF). https://isrf.org/blog/why-politics-is-failing-disabled-people-and-what-to-do-about-it Rotarou, E. S., & Sakellariou, D. (2024). Neoliberalism and disability: The systemic erasure of access. Social Science & Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953623007189 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. (n.d.). Disability studies and political theory: A framework for inclusion. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/425af050-0220-49dc-b28d-f86d976dcf02/content Varn, C. D. (2023, October). Multimodal availability for those with learning disabilities. PeerCentered. https://www.peercentered.org/2023/10/multimodal-availability-for-those-with.html Vernon, A. D. (2023, December). Silence: Non-verbal communication in philosophy. Activated Thinker. https://medium.com/activated-thinker/silence-non-verbal-communication-in-philosophy-d5d148ba8a1d Willies, E. (2025, June 16). Anthony David Vernon advocates for social democracy as a tool of rebellion against fascism [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs7l6jNGDzw Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E80
    June 29 · 1 hr 49 min

    Karl Marx’s Ethics of Human Flourishing with Sam Badger

    In this episode of Varn Vlog, we sit down with Sam Badger to explore the moral philosophy hidden within Marxian theory. While Karl Marx is famously derisive of "moralism," this discussion unpacks how his work actually outlines a robust "Ethics of Human Flourishing"—a vision of human liberation rooted in the realization of our creative and social potential beyond the constraints of capital. We delve into Sam’s latest research, comparing Marx’s views on character development and well-being with Aristotelian ethics, while highlighting how Marx’s focus on labor and class status creates a unique framework for modern social movements. Key Topics Covered: The Ethics of Character: How Marx defines the "good life" through the lens of historical context and labor. Alienation and Well-being: The impact of capitalist structures on individual development and freedom. Beyond Aristotle: Why Marx’s version of flourishing is inclusive of the working class, unlike classical elite-focused ethics. Modern Social Movements: Using Marx’s ethical framework to address today’s economic and social inequalities. Referenced Work: Book Citation: Badger, Sam. Karl Marx's Ethics of Human Flourishing. 1st ed. New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2026. (ISBN: 9798216251026). Connect With the Guest: Sam Badger’s Substack: sambadger.substack.com Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E79
    June 15 · 2 hr 12 min

    The Stranger Side of Ancient Philosophy: Materialism & Metaphysics with Max Wade

    What did "materialism" actually mean to the ancients, and how does it differ from our modern scientific understanding? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Max Wade (Ph.D., Boston College) to bridge the gap between ancient Greek ontology and modern philosophical debates. We dive deep into the "weirdness" of ancient thought, exploring why the Stoics believed in physical gods and why the Epicureans were the only true ancient materialists. Dr. Wade challenges the secularized modern reading of Socrates and Plato, revealing how their theories of divine design were actually a reactionary response to pre-Socratic natural philosophy. In this episode, we discuss: The Miriology of Being: Why the relationship between parts and wholes is the key to unlocking ancient ontology. Active vs. Passive Matter: The crucial distinction that separates Platonists, Aristotelians, and Stoics from the Epicureans. The "Swerve": Why materialism and determinism were considered incompatible in the ancient world. Plato’s Atlantis & Egyptian Wisdom: Why reading Plato literally misses his point about the soul's forgetfulness and eternal truth. Marxism & Hegel: How modern materialism is often a misreading of ancient concepts through a German Idealist lens. About Our Guest: Dr. Max Wade is a scholar of ancient philosophy whose dissertation focused on Plotinus’ Ontology of Artifacts. Follow his work at maxway.substack.com. Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E78
    June 8 · 1 hr 15 min

    Revolutionary Strategy Today with the Angry Workers Collective

    The working class is everywhere now. So why does it keep slipping out of view the moment we try to talk about power, strategy, and organization? We sit down with Marco from the Angry Workers Collective to dig into a question that quietly haunts modern labor politics: wage work has been universalized across the globe, yet movements get described with vague labels instead of clear class segments and material interests. We work through two tools that sharpen the picture: uneven and combined development and class composition. That means looking at how global capitalism links regions through credit, supply chains, migration, and war, while also tracking how cooperation, technology, and workplace discipline produce different working class experiences. From warehouses to factories to schools and hospitals, the episode pushes beyond nostalgia for 20th century union templates and asks what kinds of “advanced points” can actually radiate outward today, and how political bridges get built across fragmented sectors. The conversation gets especially concrete in the health sector. We talk about workplace political committees, the Vital Science project, and why hospitals are not just “care work” but complex social production tied to pharma, equipment, data, and community life. From there we connect anti-war sentiment to material questions of worker control, planning, and who decides what our labor is used for as militarization creeps into civilian institutions. If you care about working class strategy, global supply chains, migrant labor, and what “revolution” could practically mean in the 21st century, this is for you. Subscribe for more, share this with a coworker, and leave a review with the workplace question you want answered next. Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E77
    June 4 · 52 min

    Up vs. Down: Bypassing the Two-Party Sorting Mechanism with Travis Misurell

    Is American democracy broken, or is it just rigged? In this episode of VarmBlog, we sit down with Travis Misurell, founder of the Think: The Future is Now Coalition (Fink), to discuss a radical new framework for political engagement: moving beyond the traditional left-vs-right binary to an "Up vs. Down" perspective. We dive deep into the Digital Politics Hub (DP Hub), a materialist infrastructure project designed to bypass party gatekeepers and empower the common voter. Misurell explains how current systems manipulate our choices before we even reach the ballot and shares his vision for a citizen-owned democracy powered by transparent, digital infrastructure. Inside This Episode: The Up-Serving vs. Down-Serving Conflict: Why most politicians serve big donors and "power-boosters" rather than the grassroots. The Civic Tag Revolution: How candidates can define themselves in their own words—focusing on advocacy and identity rather than rigid party platforms. The Failure of Civic Tech: Why previous platforms failed (and why a "people-first" movement is the only way forward). AI & Open-Ended Data: How Fink uses AI to aggregate thousands of citizen priorities without the framing biases of traditional polling. The Nevada Pilot: Why Nevada was chosen as the testing ground for this new model of election reform. Digital Democracy Phase 2: A look at the future "toolbox" of citizen-owned technology, from tracking insider trading to creating a national "democracy score" for every candidate. Connect with the Movement: Ready to reclaim your vote? Join the coalition and help build a level playing field for every candidate. Visit the Hub: hub.futureis.org Take Action: Add your name and share your community's top priorities to help drive the data that candidates need to see. Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E76
    June 1 · 1 hr 8 min

    Decoding the Tragedy of Noam Chomsky with Dr. Chris Knight

    In this episode of Varn Vlog, we welcome back British anthropologist and activist Dr. Chris Knight, author of Decoding Chomsky, to discuss the startling revelations surrounding Noam Chomsky’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. We go beyond the headlines to examine the deep-seated contradictions in Chomsky’s career, his historical ties to the military-industrial complex, and what these scandals mean for the future of the American Left. Key Topics Covered: The Epstein Revelations: Analyzing the surprising extent of emails and mutual involvement between the Chomskys and Jeffrey Epstein, including claims of financial advice and legal support during family disputes. The "Two Chomskys": Dr. Knight explains the "firewall" between Chomsky’s public persona as an anti-militarist critic and his decades-long career at MIT, working within Pentagon-funded laboratories alongside figures he regarded as war criminals. Science vs. Politics: A deep dive into how Chomsky’s linguistic theories—specifically Universal Grammar and the "language module"—may have served the interests of military command and control systems. The Cognitive Revolution’s Legacy: How the shift toward "mind over matter" in the human sciences served as a counter-materialist program that undermined traditional Marxist and scientific analysis on the Left. About Our Guest: Dr. Chris Knight is a renowned British anthropologist and a leading critic of Noam Chomsky’s scientific and political legacy. His book, Decoding Chomsky: Science and Revolutionary Politics, has seen a massive resurgence in interest as scholars and activists seek to understand the collapse of Chomsky’s reputation. Supplementary Reading Grandin, G. (2025, December 15). What the Noam Chomsky–Jeffrey Epstein e-mails tell us. The Nation. https://www.thenation.com/article/society/noam-chomsky-jeffrey-epstein-emails/ Brown, Justin (2026, February 17). In defence of Noam Chomsky. (2026, February 11). Countercurrents. https://countercurrents.org/2026/02/in-defence-of-noam-chomsky/ Knight, C. (2026, February 6). The Chomsky/Epstein puzzle. CounterPunch. https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/02/06/the-chomsky-epstein-puzzle/ Knight, C. (2026, February 9). There are two Noam Chomskys: The one you love, and the one that was friends with Jeffrey Epstein. Novara Media. https://novaramedia.com/2026/02/09/there-are-two-noam-chomskys-the-one-you-love-and-the-one-that-was-friends-with-jeffrey-epstein/ Structural silence: Chomsky, Epstein, and the architecture of elite immunity. (2025, December 8). UniLiterate. https://uniliterate.com/2025/12/structural-silence-chomsky-epstein-and-the-architecture-of-elite-immunity/ Vadrot, F., & Giudice, F. (2026, February 15). The moment critical capital meets financial capital. Substack. https://substack.com/home/post/p-187860978 Hedges, C. (2026, February 14). Noam Chomsky, Jeffrey Epstein and the philosophy of despair. Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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  • S2 · E75
    May 25 · 1 hr 24 min

    The Prospects of DSA: Party Building, Power, and the Marxist Unity Group

    Approximately two years into the second Trump administration, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is at a critical crossroads. In this semi-annual check-in, we sit down with members of the Marxist Unity Group (MUG)—Cliff Connolly, Gene Allen, and Amy Wilhelm—to discuss the evolving landscape of American socialist politics. In this deep dive, our panel explores the significant shift following the passing of Resolution Seven, which officially declared the DSA's intent to transition into an independent, mass-based political party. We tackle the "New York contradictions," the limits of holding executive office without legislative support, and the struggle to maintain a revolutionary program in a "multi-tendency" organization. In This Episode, We Discuss: The Blueprint for a Party: Why the DSA is moving away from being a "political advocacy non-profit" toward a formal party structure. Executive vs. Legislative Power: Analyzing the challenges faced by elected officials like Zohran Mamdani in New York and the dangers of "shortcuts" to power. The Utility of Protests: Why street movements like "No Kings" are vital for recruitment even if they don't immediately "move the needle" on foreign policy. Building a Worker State: The development of a revolutionary program aimed at ending capitalism in the United States. Member Protagonism: How doubling down on internal democracy and STV (Single Transferable Vote) is the key to retaining the DSA's 100k+ membership. Connect with the Marxist Unity Group: Website: marxistunity.com Publications: Check out Light and Air and the Bulletin for internal and external socialist theory. Read: Cliff Connolly’s latest piece in Democratic Left regarding the Security Commission’s de-escalation and safety trainings. Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake Support the show Crew: Host: C. Derick Varn Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake. Intro Video Design: Jason Myles Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn Links and Social Media: twitter: @varnvlog blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social You can find the additional streams on Youtube Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer

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