"Ex-officer Amber Guyger testifies in wrong-apartment murder trial: 'I was scared to death,'" a " story reported in 2019. "Starbucks Files Complaints with Labor Board, Accuses Union Organizers of Bullying and Harassment," reported Food & Wine Magazine in April 2022. "Labour MPs fear for safety as pro-Palestine protesters target offices," The Guardian warned in November 2023

Within the last decade, we’ve seen the rise of a phenomenon we’ll refer to as “elite crybullying," in which people in power engage in political manipulation in order to portray themselves as victims. Routinely, we hear that armed American police fear for their safety around unarmed civilians, lawmakers feel for the their safety after there's a sit in protest and corporate executives are being unfairly intimated by union organizers. 

It's a sleazy, manipulative tactic that not only flattens, but flips, power dynamics. By claiming to have been bullied or traumatized by those who oppose them, wealthy and influential figures suddenly transform themselves from victimizers into victims. Meanwhile, by this same perverse logic, they characterize their actual victims–be they organizing workers and peace activists, who merely seek to stand up for themselves, or people killed by military and police violence – as victimizers.

On this episode, we explore the rise of ruling-class crybullyism, how elites increasingly traffic in the language of anti-bullying and therapy-speak to indemnify themselves from criticism, examine how cynical distortions of power relations recast the upholders of colonialism, labor abuses, and police violence as the oppressed, and the people who dare to object as the oppressors, all in an effort to silence dissent from the justifiably angry masses. 

Our guests are Mari Cohen and Saree Makdisi.

Episode 199: The Golden Age of Crybullyism

We get very self-indulgent and discuss the film-related people, events, and places that made us who we are today.
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Check out Justin's other podcasts, THE BAY STREET VIDEO PODCAST (@thebaystreetvideopodcast), THE VERY FINE COMIC BOOK PODCAST (www.theveryfinecomicbookpodcast.com) and NO SUCH THING AS A BAD MOVIE (@nosuchthingasabadmovie), as well as Will's MICHAEL AND US (@michael-and-us).

#378 - The Toronto Film Legends That Made Us

What is Iran’s military and political strategy now that it has struck back against Israel’s illegal bombing of its embassy, and with another cycle of escalation looming? Israel’s strikes killed over a dozen people, including two Iranian generals, while Iran’s response produced no casualties. Why is Israel escalating? What does global public opinion look like towards the U.S. Empire on one side and the “Axis of Resistance” on the other? What consequences could the U.S. face in the region if Israel strikes again?

Brian Becker is joined by Prof. Mohammad Marandi, an expert on American studies and postcolonial literature who teaches at the University of Tehran.

Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/TheSocialistProgram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

Iran Doesn’t Want Larger War with Israel But is Ready For It w/ Prof. Mohammad Marandi

The Socialist Program presents a new special 3-part, more than 5-hour-long podcast series on the legacy of Russian Marxist V.I. Lenin, based on a class series by Brian Becker at The People’s Forum in November and December 2023, enhanced with historical audio recordings and more. This series provides a specific approach to studying Lenin's writings for a new generation of socialist organizers. It discusses the war in Gaza and the struggle of the Palestinian people for national liberation, and outlines Lenin's organizational and tactical outlook in the era of modern imperialism.

This is Part 1 of Lenin and the Path to Revolution

Below are details of historical audio clips included in this episode that may not be otherwise identified by listening:

5:50 - Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, written in 1893 (a favorite of Lenin)

8:53 - Excerpt of Lenin’s speech “What is Soviet Power?” recorded March 1919

14:28 - Recording of Tsar Nicolas II addressing soldiers in 1910

37:45 - Journalist John Pilger speaking with a U.S. soldier in Vietnam, 1970

52:02 - Eyewitness account of the February Revolution from the Kennan Institute Russian History Audio Archive

1:21:14 - Marching Song of the First Arkansas Regiment (U.S. Civil War)

1:28:36, 1:28:56 - News report on House Un-American Activities Committee investigation in Hollywood, 1947

1:29:44, 1:30:15 - Anderson Cooper and Bernie Sanders at the Democratic Party presidential debate in Las Vegas, 2015

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Help make this show possible by joining our patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram

Lenin and the Path to Revolution [Part 1]

The Socialist Program presents a new special 3-part, more than 5-hour-long podcast series on the legacy of Russian Marxist V.I. Lenin, based on a class series by Brian Becker at The People’s Forum in November and December 2023, enhanced with historical audio recordings and more. This series provides a specific approach to studying Lenin's writings for a new generation of socialist organizers. It discusses the war in Gaza and the struggle of the Palestinian people for national liberation, and outlines Lenin's organizational and tactical outlook in the era of modern imperialism.

This is Part 2 of Lenin and the Path to Revolution

Below are details of historical audio clips included in this episode that may not be otherwise identified by listening:

12:28 - Eugene Puryear speaking at the National March On Washington for Palestine, November 4th 2023

30:04 - Brian Becker speaking at anti-war rally in Washington, D.C., January 18, 2003

56:37 - ‘John Brown’s Body’ - popular song in the U.S. Civil War

1:36:28 - Joe Biden (then a senator) speaking in Congress, 1986

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Help make this show possible by joining our patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram

Lenin and the Path to Revolution [Part 2]

Will interviews Basil Zacharia Rodriguez, an activist and student at Columbia University involved with Columbia Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) about the ongoing demonstrations taking place there. They discuss the goals of the protests, the media response, and the University’s economic interests in both Palestinian occupation and displacing New Yorkers in Harlem.

Then, Amber and Felix join to continue the discussion of the media freak-out over campus activism, as well as the trial of Donald Trump, and two reading series exploring the sexual pathologies of Spectator columnists and Rabbi Shmuley.

Tickets to Will & Hesse’s Movie Mindset screening & talkback of Death Wish 3 in NYC on May 4: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-houses-movie-mindset-screening-of-death-wish-3-w-will-hesse-tickets-877569192077

Chapo Trap House

826 - University Challenge feat. Basil Zacharia Rodriguez (4/23/24)

On today's listener requested episode we're talkin' bout Jackie Chan on the streets of Vancouver. It's Rumble In The Bronx (1995)!

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Episode #152 - Rumble In The Bronx

We discuss the work of pioneer Brucesploitation actor/director Bruce Le - and focus on his films Challenge of the Tiger, Ninja Over the Great Wall, and Comfort Women.

Join the Patreon now for an exclusive episode every week, access to our entire Patreon Episode back catalog, your name read out on the next episode, and the friendly Discord chat: patreon.com/theimportantcinemaclub

Subscribe, Review and Rate Us on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-…ub/id1067435576
Follow the Podcast: twitter.com/ImprtCinemaClub
Follow Will: twitter.com/WillSloanESQ
Follow Justin: twitter.com/DeclouxJ

Check out Justin's other podcasts, THE BAY STREET VIDEO PODCAST (@thebaystreetvideopodcast), THE VERY FINE COMIC BOOK PODCAST (www.theveryfinecomicbookpodcast.com) and NO SUCH THING AS A BAD MOVIE (@nosuchthingasabadmovie), as well as Will's MICHAEL AND US (@michael-and-us).

#380 - Bruce Le: The Most Bruce Lee

Starting with the illegal UN vote to partition Palestine in 1947, this second episode in a series goes over the colonial, racist history of the zionist project up until the 1967 Six-Day War. Listen to the first one on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts. This was recorded April 26, 2024.

Brian is joined by Richard Becker, the author of the newly updated book, "Palestine, Israel, and U.S. Empire," published by 1804 Books.

Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

The Colonial Roots of Zionism: Palestine, Israel, and the U.S. Empire Part 2: 1947-1967

Une cascade de réactions et extrapolations à chaud, au crépuscule du bouclage du Hors Série George Miller de Mad Movies.

Avec Alexandre.

Viteuf : Furiosa de George Miller

It's Midterms, baby! Gotta love da Midterms. We start off today's show getting our Wohls filled by Will Sommer with the story of Trump-worshipping wunderkind Jacob Wohl's sad attempt to frame Robert Mueller. Then Virgil takes the wheel and guides us through America's hotly contested midterm landscape. Will Democrats eke out enough power to put a check on America's Three Stooges-led slide into fascism? Will Republicans solidify their stranglehold on power? Will we be excoriated by online communists for engaging in bourgeois electoralism? Come wonk off with us and find out!

Keep an eye on our Twitter feed or the subreddit for updates on where you can watch our election night live feed, starting 8pm tuesday night.

260 - Wonk The Pain Away: An Election Special feat. Will Sommer (11/4/18)

News and views about the world for those who want to change it, with Brian Becker

Lenin and the Path to Revolution [Part 1]

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker