After a Palestine update with the Electronic Intifada's Nora Barrows-Friedman, act.tv host, comedian, and philosophy professor Julianna Forlano joins Ben to talk about philosophy, comedy, and the state of the left. Ben also talks about a big personal decision. Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis . Patrons get a bonus episode every Thursday, access to the Discord server, a “Sopranos” ...
May 18, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Season 2Ep. 5
For this week's patron bonus episode: Ben talked to Fredrik deBoer, author of "The Cult of Smart," about a bunch of his Substack essays. Two of these essays are "a bad partner is worse than rain" about Israel and Palestine and "Perhaps We Cannot Do Both" which talks about the George Floyd and BLM protests and Meghan Markle and the difference between symbolic fights and real big change. https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/... Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you wa...
May 14, 2021•9 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Sorry for the delay in posting this one--but it's worth the wait! Majority Report host Sam Seder joins Ben to talk about some of the highlights and recurrent themes of his many, many debates with libertarians. In the second half (and going into the postgame), Touré Reed and Jason Myles come on to talk about capitalism, racial injustice, and some of the themes from Touré's excellent book "Toward Freedom." Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them ...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Season 2Ep. 3
"Canceling Comedians While the World Burns: A Critique of the Contemporary Left" is officially out now! In these clips from the online book launch, Ana Kasparian, Nando Vila, Ryan Lake, Daniel Bessner, and David Griscom stop by to chat--and to talk about the book. Ben reads a short extract from it at the end. If you (ahem) want to pick up a copy yourself, it's available at all the usual book places but here's a link to order it from the worker-owned bookstore Red Emmas: https://redemmas.org/titl...
May 05, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Left Reckoning's David Griscom talks about Jean-Paul Sartre. Ben and Producer Forrest debunk a video made by a YouTube tax-shelter guru who seems very upset about Ben's "Abolish Inherited Wealth" article. Joe Biden is up to various shenanigans (although we might not get to those until the postgame). Nando Vila plugs Ben's new book. Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis. Patrons ...
May 04, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Season 2Ep. 1
About a week ago, Ben debated Gene Epstein at the Soho Forum in Florida on capitalism vs. socialism.. Now that the video's out, Ben watched it with Producer Forrest and economics prof & Current Affairs House Economist Rob Larson and did a little postgame analysis at the end. Enjoy! Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis . Patrons get a bonus episode every Thursday, access to the D...
Apr 27, 2021•3 hr 12 min
Season 2 doesn't officially start for another week and a half, but we thought this was a worth popping back on to cover. Jason Myles and Pascal Robert from the This is Revolution podcast join Ben to talk about the Chauvin verdict, prospects for the continuing struggle to demilitarize policing and hold murderous cops to account, and more. Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis . Patron...
Apr 23, 2021•2 hr 29 min
Ben talked to Glenn Greenwald over the weekend about Glenn's new book, "Securing Democracy: My Fight for Press Freedom and Justice in Bolsonaro's Brazil." We were originally planning to play this as part of the first episode of Season 2, but it ended up going so long and being so interesting that we decided to release it as a standalone. Enjoy! Support Give Them An Argument by becoming a patron at patreon.com/benburgis to get an extra episode each week, access to the Discord server, monthly "Dis...
Apr 13, 2021•1 hr 43 min
Ben interviews Aaron Rabinowitz, a philosophy professor and the host of the Embrace the Void podcast, about moral realism, free will, and several other subjects. This is a free public preview of a patron-exclusive episode. To listen to the full episode and every other Thursday patron episode become a Give Them An Argument patron at patreon.com/benburgis.
Apr 09, 2021•9 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Sam Harris, it turns out, is wrong about just about everything. Kurdish Studies professor Djene Bajalan is here to talk about everything Harris gets wrong about Islam and the Middle East. Philosophy professors Mark Warren and Ryan Lake are here to talk about everything Harris gets wrong about subjects like moral realism and free will. We'll also get into some of Harris' extra bonus wrongness about subjects like whether Charles Murray is a "scientist" following the data on race and IQ wherever it...
Apr 06, 2021•4 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Musician and "This is Revolution" host Jason Myles joins Ben to talk about subjects ranging from Metallica and Black Sabbath to whether grunge is really a distinct genre to what police abolitionism really means in a society with massive economic inequality. To get the full episode and every other Thursday patron-exclusive episode, support give them on argument on Patreon: patreon.com/benburgis
Apr 01, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Nando Vila comes on to talk about Brazil, Bolivia, and class politics here at home. But first, Zero Hour host R.J. Eskow chats with Ben about one of their favorite philosophers, G.A. Cohen, and Cohen's little book Why Not Socialism: https://redemmas.org/titles/9752-why-... Cole James Cash fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ekpkyb-hel... Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis ...
Mar 30, 2021•3 hr 36 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Djene Bajalan and Pascal Robert join Ben to break down this atrocious National Review article: https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/03/an-american-defense-of-britains-constitutional-monarchy/ To get the full episode and every other Thursday patron-exclusive episode, become a GTAA patron at patreon.com/benburgis. As well as extra episodes every week, patrons get access to the GTAA Discord server, monthly "Discord Office hours" group voice chats, monthly Discord Movie Nights, and early access to th...
Mar 25, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Physician, activist, and Michigan-based Berniecrat politician Abdul El-Sayed and his co-author Micah Johnson discuss their new book "Medicare for All: A Citizen's Guide." You can buy it here: https://redemmas.org/titles/35220-med... Writer Natalie Shure talks about her recent piece in the Nation and the broader fight for Medicare for All: https://www.thenation.com/article/soc... Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them An Argument on Patreon...
Mar 24, 2021•3 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Russell Sbriglia, Matt McManus, and Ryan Lake join Ben to continue their deep dive into the philosophy of Immanuel Kant. To get the full episode and every other Thursday patron-exclusive episode, become a GTAA patron at patreon.com/benburgis. As well as extra episodes every week, patrons get access to the GTAA Discord server, monthly "Discord Office hours" group voice chats, monthly Discord Movie Nights, and early access to the Monthly Sopranos Bonus Episodes with Mike Recine, Nando Vila, and Wo...
Mar 18, 2021•9 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Nomiki Konst, host of The Nomiki Show and contributor for The Majority Report, comes on GTAA to break down some of the complexities of Puerto Rico's statehood and independence movements, talk about the terrible anti-Italian discrimination currently being experienced by New York's completely powerless second-generation Governor, and talk up the PRO Act. There's a preview for the Beginners Guide to Kant Pt. 2 episode dropping for patrons on Thursday. Teachers union activists Kenzo Shibata and Paul...
Mar 16, 2021•3 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Liza Featherstone chats with Ben about her in-depth profile of Natalie Wynn ("ContraPoints") in The Nation, "Natalie Wynn Wants to Redistribute the Goddamn Champagne": https://www.thenation.com/article/society/natalie-wynn-contrapoints/ To get the full episode and every other Thursday episode, become a patron of Give Them An Argument: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis. Patrons get a bonus episode every Thursday, access to the Discord server, a “Sopranos” Recap Bonus Episode every month with Mike...
Mar 11, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Ben and Forrest watch Kyrsten Sinema do the thumbs-down on a living wage like Emperor Commodus doing the thumbs-down to sentence a gladiator to death in the arena and then discuss the recent firestorm over Glenn Greenwald's comments on "socialism" and left/right convergence. Thaddeus Russell comes back on the show to talk about postmodernism, politics, and other things. There's a preview of the patron-exclusive episode coming on Thursday where Liza Featherstone talks ContraPoints. A good time is...
Mar 09, 2021•3 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Philosophy professor Ryan Lake, poli sci professor Matt McManus and literature professor Russell Sbriglia join Ben for Part I of a multi-week deep dive into the philosophy of Immanuel Kant. Part II should be coming in a couple of weeks! To get the full episode and every other Thursday episode, subscribe to Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis. Besides the Thursday bonus episode every week, patrons get access to the Discord server, a Sopranos Recap Bonus Epis...
Mar 04, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 37
The authors of "Myth & Mayhem: A Leftist Critique of Jordan Peterson" (https://redemmas.org/titles/34806-myth-and-mayhem--a-leftist-critique-of-jordan-peterson) reunite to do a deep dive on Dr. Peterson's lunacy on the occasion of the publication of his new book. Vic Vaiana substitutes for the absent David Griscom and does a segment on Pink Floyd. Ben and Forrest debut a new weekly segment--the Biden Update. A good time is had by all. Independent creators rely on your support to create the c...
Mar 02, 2021•3 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Heterodox economist Nia Cola and Zero Books' C Derick Varn have a friendly "debate" (agreeing on more they than they disagree on as it turns out) about MMT vs. orthodox Marxist economics. We don't exactly settle the issue for all time but it is a good medium-deep dive into some important aspects of the controversy. To get the full episode and every other Thursday patron-exclusive episode, support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis . Patrons get a Thursday bonus ...
Feb 25, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Emma Vigeland denies being a "Cuomosexual" and discusses the life and work of the late Rush Limbaugh. Pascal Robert does a deep dive on American and Haitian revolutionary history. Ben and Forrest discuss Ben's recent debate with right-wing megapastor Douglas Wilson. There's a lot going on in this one. Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis . Patrons get a Thursday bonus episode ever...
Feb 23, 2021•3 hr 45 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Jacobin Deputy Editor Micah Uetricht wrote an excellent essay for The Nation about socialist scholar and frequent anticipator-of-disasters Mike Davis. You should read it--and join the Patreon so you can listen to the whole interview! Mike Davis' Forecast for the Left: https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/mike-davis-old-gods-set-night/ Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis . Pat...
Feb 18, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Shaun Richman talks about his excellent book "Tell The Bosses We're Coming" ( https://redemmas.org/titles/34879-tel... ). Nathan J. Robinson talks about being fired from The Guardian for making a mild joke about U.S. military support for Israel. David Griscom talks country. Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis . Patrons get a Thursday bonus episode every week, access to the Discor...
Feb 16, 2021•3 hr 46 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Writer and cohost of Dissent Magazine’s Know Your Enemy podcast Sam Adler Bell joins Ben Burgis for this week’s Patron-only episode. Sam and Ben discuss a piece that Sam wrote for The Drift, “Doctor Do-Little | The Case Against Anthony Fauci“ ( https://www.thedriftmag.com/the-case-... ). Sam explains the arguments for and against severe criticism of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s role in the government’s Covid-19 response. Find Sam Online: https://twitter.com/SamAdlerBell https://twitter.com/KnowYrEnem...
Feb 12, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Ben and Forrest watch a clip of Michael Brooks and talk about future plans for the show. There's a preview of Thursday's patron bonus episode featuring Sam Adler-Bell talking about his piece on Dr. Fauci in The Drift (https://www.thedriftmag.com/the-case-against-fauci/). Ben debates libertarian Adam Kokesh (https://adamvstheman.com/) on the Civil War, decentralization, segregation, and capitalism vs. socialism. Jason Myles from the This is Revolution podcast (ThisIsRevolutionPodcast.com) comes o...
Feb 09, 2021•4 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Zero Books editor Doug Lain joins Ben to talk about tech censorship, free speech, the media's stance during the Trump years, and more. For the full episode and every other Thursday episode for patrons, support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis . Patrons also get access to the Discord and regularly scheduled "Discord Office Hours" group voice chats. Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenBurgis Like, subscribe, and get notifications on Ben’s channel: ht...
Feb 04, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Ben plays a sadly evergreen Michael Brooks clip about U.S. aggression toward Iran. Krystal Ball comes on to get into Biden's uninspiring firs two weeks in office. Ben and Forrest do a deep dive on Biden's terrible record. David Griscom talks George Jones. There's a preview of Ben's conversation with Doug Lain about free speech and tech censorship. Independent creators rely on your support to create the content you want! Support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis ...
Feb 02, 2021•2 hr 51 min
Amber A'Lee Frost from Chapo Trap House and Jacobin Contributing Editor Daniel Bessner chat with Ben about their co-written Jacobin article "How the QAnon Cult Stormed the Capitol." (https://jacobinmag.com/2021/01/q-anon-cult-capitol-hill-riot-trump) This is a free public preview. To get the full episode, support Give Them An Argument on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/benburgis . Patrons get a weekly bonus episode, access to the Discord server and regularly scheduled "Discord Office Hours" gro...
Jan 28, 2021•9 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Ben and Forrest break down Biden's inaugural address and his first week in office. Katie Halper, Daniel Bessner, and Rania Khalek come on for an all-star panel on Biden's foreign policy. Forrest plays a teaser of the patron-exclusive episode dropping Thursday with Ben's conversation with Bessner and Amber A'lee Frost about their excellent Jacobin piece exploring the insanity of QAnon. David Griscom talks about The Highwaymen on Outlaws & Revolutionaries. Guys, this is a fantastic episode. In...
Jan 26, 2021•3 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 26
