In the wake of the Labour Party's disastrous performance in the 2021 U.K. local elections, we're taking a look back at a key moment in recent British history. The made-for-TV movie COALITION (2015) documents the wheelings and dealings that led to Nick Clegg's Liberal-Democrats joining forces with David Cameron's Conservatives after. the 2010 election left no party with a parliamentary majority. We share some larfs over a perfectly mediocre movie, and. discuss the true meaning of "Cleggmania" and its aftermath. PLUS: Why can't Keir Starmer sell centrism like Tony Blair could? And reflections on Toronto's alt-media landscape, from NOW Magazine to Eye Weekly to The Grid.

"The Grid R.I.P." - http://radiofreecanuckistan.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-grid-rip.html

"Keir Starmer’s Televised Meltdown Was Decades in the Making" by Luke Savage - https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/05/keir-starmer-bbc-meltdown-labour-election-hartlepool

Michael and Us

#234 - Cleggmania Revisited

Writer Ben Ehrenreich on the value of life and time before the collapse, and his book "Desert Notebooks: A Road Map for the End of Time" via Counterpoint Press, and in a Moment of Truth, Jeff Dorchen wants to sell you another improved fascism.

https://www.counterpointpress.com/dd-product/desert-notebooks/

1207: Time at the end of time / Ben Ehrenreich

Historian David Broder on the right's multi-decade rise to power in Italian politics and his book "First They Took Rome: How the Populist Right Conquered Italy" from Verso.

https://www.versobooks.com/books/2974-first-they-took-rome

1217: How the right took Italy / David Broder

We discuss the work of Nick Park, the Writer/Director behind Wallace and Gromit, and dive into THE WRONG TROUSERS, CHICKEN RUN, and CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop us a line at importantcinemaclubpodcast@gmail.com

On this week's Patreon episode, we discuss Daneil Craig's tenure as James Bond.  Become a Patreon subscriber for $5 a month and get an exclusive episode every week!

www.patreon.com/theimportantcinemaclub

#226 - The Plasticine Dreams of Nick Park

Kate Clark on her report "War in Afghanistan in 2020: Just as much violence, but no one wants to talk about it" for Afghanistan Analysts Network

https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/war-and-peace/war-in-afghanistan-in-2020-just-as-much-violence-but-no-one-wants-to-talk-about-it/

1231: Peace and death in Afghanistan / Kate Clark

Researcher Christian Sorensen on his book "Understanding the War Industry" from Clarity Press.

https://www.claritypress.com/product/understanding-the-war-industry/

1232: On the war industry / Christian Sorensen

In this episode, we discuss the essential work of Jonas Mekas, author of the Cinema Journal column in the Village Voice, founder of the Anthology Film Archives, and torchbearer for experimental cinema.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop us a line at importantcinemaclubpodcast@gmail.com

www.patreon.com/theimportantcinemaclub

#227 - The Cinema Journals of Jonas Mekas

What does it mean to be "America's Critic"? What does it take to be the most powerful critic the world has ever known? Several months back we discussed "Siskel & Ebert," but now we turn our attention specifically to Roger Ebert, the Pulitzer-winner who may forever be America's best-known film critic. We watch the Ebert documentary LIFE ITSELF (2014), and ponder the movie's questionable assertion that "He did not get caught up in certain ideologies of what cinema should be." PLUS: why are liberals sending thoughts and prayers to the president?

NOTE: As a special experiment for the month of October 2020, we will be posting two episodes per week - one free, one Patreon-exclusive. Like the show and want more? Go to https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus.

Episode #152 ("Rule of Thumb" Part 1) - https://soundcloud.com/michael-and-us/152-rule-of-thumb

"Roger Ebert's Zero-Star Movies" by Will Sloan - https://hazlitt.net/feature/roger-eberts-zero-star-movies

#174 - Rule of Thumb, Part II

Writer Fabian Scheidler examines the collapse of a 500-year system at (or already beyond) its social and ecological limits, and calls for an urgent un-coupling of both political power from corporate hands, and our way of life from capitalism's constant demands for expansion and growth.

Fabian is author of "The End of the Megamachine: A Brief History of a Failing Civilization" from Zero Books.

https://www.megamaschine.org/en/

Death and choice at the megamachine's end.

A breakdown of Biden's new defense cabinet and what it means for war & peace. Who is Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Avril Haines, Lloyd Austin and Linda Thomas-Greenfield?

KEEP EMPIRE FILES AD-FREE & INDEPENDENT: https://www.patreon.com/empirefiles 

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Episode 100 - Biden's Scary Foreign Policy Picks: A Blast From War Crimes Past

And introducing, on the ones and twos, it’s RICK RUBIN. One of the superstar producers of the last forty years, Rubin went from Long Island punk to hip-hop pioneer in the 80’s, founding Def Jam Records out of his dorm room with Russell Simmons. He’d go on to produce some of the top recording artists of his era, ranging from Beastie Boys to Neil Diamond, LL Kool J to Metallica, and co-head Columbia Records. And today we’re joined by producer Jesse Cannon to learn all about Rubin from the book “Rick Rubin in the Studio” by Jake Brown

Check out Jesse’s YouTube channel and other work here:
www.Musformation.com
www.Jessecannon.com

SONGS IN ORDER:
T La Rock & Jazzy Jay - It’s Yours
LL Cool J - I Need A Beat
Beastie Boys - Rhymin & Stealin
Public Enemy - Don’t Believe the Hype
Slayer - Raining Blood
Danzig - Mother
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss
The Chicks - Lubbock of Leave It
The Chicks - Gaslighter
Lady Gaga - Dope

1232: On the war industry / Christian Sorensen

This Is Hell!

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