Eric Blanc joins us to talk about a recent essay he wrote assessing the break that founded the UK Labour Party, of which there are tremendous resonances with the socialist movement in the U.S., today. 

***Support this podcast by becoming a patron today: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Tune in for this wide-ranging and informative discussion.

You can find the essay here: https://jacobinmag.com/2021/02/labour-party-uk-lessons-socialists

Thanks, Patrons!

Taking Lessons from the Break That Founded the Labour Party w/ Eric Blanc

With the British monarchy at its lowest ebb of popularity since the week after Diana's death, we consider these two moments within the context of the wretched institution's ignoble history. We watch Christopher Hitchens' documentary DIANA: THE MOURNING AFTER (1998) - a controversial dissenting take on the Diana myth - and also discuss Netflix's THE CROWN and the Harry/Meghan phenomenon. In the process, we speculate how the existential threat facing this frankly worthless institution might lead to an unholy reinvention. PLUS: a rueful look back at James Berardinelli, the most popular web-based critic of the '90s.

"The British Monarchy Will Not Survive Late Capitalism — And Harry and Meghan Are Proof" by Luke Savage - https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/03/british-monarchy-neoliberal-age-prince-harry-meghan-markle

Michael and Us

#222- Guillotine in Piccadilly

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

#234 - Cleggmania Revisited

Philosopher Teppo Eskelinen on "The Revival of Political Imagination: Utopia as Methodology" from Zed Books.

https://www.zedbooks.net/shop/book/the-revival-of-political-imagination/

1266: On utopia / Teppo Eskelinen

TeleSur English's Brian Mier reports on far-right losses, and gains for both the left and center-right in Brazil's 2020 municipal elections.

1268: Brazil municipal election report / Brian Mier

Ward Anseeuw on the International Land Coalition report "Uneven Ground: Land inequalities at the heart of unequal societies.

"https://www.landcoalition.org/en/uneven-ground/report-and-papers/

1269: Land inequality, social inequality / Ward Anseeuw

The harrowing story of a VA long-term care facility where veterans watched friends die of Covid, then sentenced to a solitary-confinement lockdown. Special guest Spencer Ackerman joins to discuss this story, his new book Reign Of Terror, and more.

The VA Covid Prison & The Reign of Terror

Journalist Federico Fuentes reports on Venezuela's recent parliamentary elections and his article "Why Venezuela’s National Assembly elections matter" for Green Left.

https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/why-venezuelas-national-assembly-elections-matter

1273: Venezuela parliamentary election report / Federico Fuentes

you fuckers 

www.patreon.com/generationloss

100 // Burn After Reading (2008) w/ Adam H Johnson

Thomas Frank joins us to dig into the history of populism in the U.S. and tell us why it matters in today's political moment. 

*** Support DPS by becoming a patron today: HTTP://www.patreon.com/deadpundits ***

Find out more about his book here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250220110

What is Populism and Why Does it Matter? w/ Thomas Frank

William Callison and Quinn Slobodian on their article "Coronapolitics from the Reichstag to the Capitol" for Boston Review.

https://bostonreview.net/politics/william-callison-quinn-slobodian-coronapolitics-reichstag-capitol

1273: Venezuela parliamentary election report / Federico Fuentes

This Is Hell!

Related tracks