A collection of audio essays on the general theme of the social engineering of society by "social media," corporate media, and the rest of the power structure.

This playlist begins with the most recent and ends with ruminations I recorded at the beginning of 2021.  Everything here also can be found in written form at davidrovics.com/thisweek and if you look me up on Substack.

Social Engineering

Occasional, bite-sized chunks of anarchist commentary and culture.  Each episode consists of an audio essay followed by a song.  Available wherever you get your podcasts.

This Week with David Rovics

Global Exchange and Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin is only one of many well-known leaders of the US left being attacked by self-described anarchists. If you're confused by this, you're not alone. The written version of this piece appeared in Counterpunch at the beginning of June.

Attacking Medea Benjamin -- A Short Primer on the "Anarchists" of Empire and Identity Politics

If we were to try to assess the overall impact of no-platforming campaigns over the course of the past century, what would we conclude?

The Historic Failure of No-Platforming

Whether the left develops an inclusive orientation towards organizing the working class, or the exclusive orientation of a dystopic cancellation cult, is up to all of us.

The Left: How We Can Build It and How We Can Destroy It

I've heard from so many people asking for my response to this song that I had to listen to it, learn it, make a couple minor edits to it, cover it, and write an essay about it.  Here's the podcast version of it.

Why I Love the Song, "Rich Men North of Richmond" (After Slightly Revising the Lyrics)

If you spend most of your time going down rabbit holes, it's easy to develop tunnel vision.

The Mind-Warping Effects of Rabbit Holes

Ever wake up one morning and realize you've been a pawn in someone else's game, when you thought you were making history instead?

The Social Engineering and Paralysis of the US Left

Senator John McCain is dead.  Speak good of the dead.  Good -- he's dead.

John McCain

No, not Shakespeare -- Hamlet, North Carolina.  September 3rd, 1991.

Remembering Hamlet

AP is reporting several of the children separated from their parents have been sexually abused in captiviity.  Unfortunately, sexually abusing children after separating them from their parents is as American as apple pie.

Child Separations

The CIA-backed military coup in Chile on September 11th, 1973 resulted in thousands killed and tortured over the course of a brutal dictatorship that began that day.  It also gave rise to some impressive acts of solidarity.  In Scotland, workers at the factory that repaired all the engines for the entire Chilean Air Force refused to touch a fascist engine.  For a time, it was revealed recently, the entire Chilean Air Force was grounded as a result.

September 11th, 1973

The Global Financial Crisis began in earnest 10 years ago this week, and the first of the series of global protests that began with a protest in Zuccotti Park in Manhattan on this date in 2011.  I was there.

Remembering Occupy Wall Street

Singer/songwriter, writer, podcaster (on Spotify, Substack & Patreon), libertarian socialist, dad, lover of life.  I also write songs as part of Ai Tsuno, which you can look up on all the streaming platforms.