We're still not entirely sure what the mega-bestselling 2005 book "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" was about, but it seems to have had something to do with arguing that economics is all about incentives. The 2010 anthology film adaptation FREAKONOMICS explores this thin thesis across segments directed by such documentary legends as Eugene Jarecki, Alex Gibney, and (ugh) Morgan Spurlock... but its "counterintuitive" take on capitalism ends up reinforcing so...
Jun 26, 2021•51 min
Every Wednesday at 6 PM ET, The Jacobin Show offers socialist perspectives on class and capitalism in the twenty-first century, the failures of liberalism, and the prospects of rebuilding a left labor movement in the US. This is the podcast version of the show from June 23, 2021 with Jen Pan and Paul Prescod hosting. Cedric Johnson, associate professor of political science and African American studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, joins us to discuss the past year of racial justice prot...
Jun 25, 2021•1 hr 33 min
Part I: a worker narrates his shift over audio recorded inside a warehouse. That segment was a collaboration between this anonymous worker and Freddie Stuart , a journalist and podcast producer based in London. You can read the duo’s feature article in the next issue of Jacobin. Freddie helped produce this episode. Part II: my conversation with ex-Amazon worker Chris Smalls. That starts around 41 minutes into the episode. You can listen to Primer by searching for Jacobin Radio on Apple, Spotify,...
Jun 24, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 3
This week, Grace speaks to Alexander Zevin, assistant professor of history at City University of New York, an editor at New Left Review , and author of Liberalism at Large: The World According to the Economist . Their conversation covers a host of interesting questions, including about the liberal ideology, whether it’s in crisis – and where the liberal rules-based world order goes next. You can support our work on the show by becoming a Patron . Thanks to our producer Conor Gillies and the Lipm...
Jun 23, 2021•42 min
Suzi talks to Yoav Peled about the outcome of Israel’s 4th election in two years, ending Benjamin Netanyahu's long reign--for the time being. Netanyahu unleashed a major shock and awe campaign against Gaza for 11 days last month -- as he did in November 2019, to deflect attention from his own legal problems and his inability to form a governing coalition. This time Hamas rockets and Israeli bombs failed to save Netanyahu’s hold on power and prevent a more moderate coalition from upending his rul...
Jun 22, 2021•57 min
The history of the United States is in no small part the history of US intervention in Latin America. Historian Greg Grandin on his classic book Empire's Workshop: Latin America, the United States, and the Making of an Imperial Republic . Support this podcast at Patreon.com/TheDig Watch our new Dig video shorts on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=LcZb3A986p0
Jun 22, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Every Saturday at 1 PM ET, Ana Kasparian and Nando Vila broadcast live from the Jacobin YouTube channel. Weekends features free-flowing and humorous commentary on current events and political strategy. This is the podcast version of the show from June 19, 2021. We're talking about the meaning of Juneteenth with longtime labor and racial justice activist Bill Fletcher Jr. Also covering the debate around Critical Race Theory and *why there is no* technological fix for policing. Join the Verso book...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 56 min
Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine’s longform writers. Hosted by Features Editor Daniel Finn. The guest for this episode is Sarah-Anne Buckley. Sarah-Anne ( @SarahAnneBuckle ) is a leading authority on Ireland's carceral state who teaches history at the National University of Ireland, Galway. She's the author of The Cruelty Man: Child Welfare, the NSPCC and the State in Ireland, 1889-1956. Read Sa...
Jun 19, 2021•52 min
Every Wednesday at 6 PM ET, The Jacobin Show offers socialist perspectives on class and capitalism in the twenty-first century, the failures of liberalism, and the prospects of rebuilding a left labor movement in the US. This is the podcast version of the show from June 16, 2021 with Jen Pan and Paul Prescod hosting. Chapo Trap House co-host Matt Christman joins us to discuss the role of the media under capitalism and the rise of alternative outlets—but more importantly—why the politics surround...
Jun 18, 2021•1 hr 31 min
We’re opening Amazon’s books to look at the company’s finances. On this episode, I'm joined by Edward Ongweso Jr, a staff writer at Vice News's Motherboard where he covers Silicon Valley and the gig economy, and Jathan Sadowski, the author of Too Smart , a book on the political economy of digital capitalism. Ed and Jathan host the podcast This Machine Kills , a great show about technology and political economy. You can listen to Primer via Jacobin Radio on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere else you li...
Jun 17, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 2
This week, Grace speaks to Amelia Horgan, Philosophy PhD candidate researching the politics of work and author of Lost in Work: Escaping Capitalism . They discuss the changing nature of work in the UK and around the world, how these trends have been impacted by the pandemic, and whether it’s possible to imagine "good work" under capitalism. (Note there was an occasional snag in our guest's sound because of some internet trouble.) You can support our work on the show by becoming a Patron . Thanks...
Jun 16, 2021•37 min
Suzi speaks to Nicolas Allen of Jacobin America Latina about the June 6 nail-biter election in Peru. Socialist trade unionist Pedro Castillo , from an indigenous background, has won the presidency by less than 1%. His victory represents a devastating defeat for Peru’s populist neoliberal politics, represented by his rightwing opponent Keiko Fujimori , daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori – who sits in jail for corruption. Castillo’s campaign slogan was “No more poor people in a rich cou...
Jun 15, 2021•54 min
The Dig is taking a break to play catch up this week and posting a favorite interview from our archives: Nick Estes on his book Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock Versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance. First posted on June 29 2019. Support this podcast at Patreon.com/TheDig
Jun 15, 2021•2 hr 44 min
Every Saturday at 1 PM ET, Ana Kasparian and Nando Vila broadcast live from the Jacobin YouTube channel. Weekends features free-flowing and humorous commentary on current events and political strategy. This is the podcast version of the show from June 12, 2021. Ronan Burtenshaw of Tribune joins us to discuss the contentious leadership election in Britain's largest union, Unite, and its massive implications for the entire UK. We also discuss how the law has been written to serve the interests of ...
Jun 14, 2021•2 hr 7 min
Host Doug Henwood covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global. In this episode, Doug speaks with Matt Kierkegaard, coordinator of the Progressive International ’s delegation to observe the Peruvian election, on the apparent very narrow victory of the socialist, Pedro Castillo. Then Doug interviews Ross Barkan , author of The Prince , on the dark, evil Andrew Cuomo....
Jun 13, 2021•53 min
The archetype of the shadowy, Machiavellian political strategist is potent in the popular imagination, and no strategist has leaned into this potency harder than Roger Stone. We look back at one of Trumpworld's wackier characters by watching the Netflix documentary GET ME ROGER STONE (2017) and discuss how he is both a more and less significant figure than he seems. PLUS: Roger Stone's fashion blog!
Jun 11, 2021•43 min
Every Wednesday at 6 PM ET, The Jacobin Show offers socialist perspectives on class and capitalism in the twenty-first century, the failures of liberalism, and the prospects of rebuilding a left labor movement in the US. This is the podcast version of the show from June 9, 2021, with producer Cale Brooks filling in as co-host while Ariella and Paul are out. Benjamin Fong and Melissa Naschek join us to discuss their latest Catalyst article on the boom of the nonprofit sector, the increasing domin...
Jun 11, 2021•1 hr 26 min
Primer is a new podcast about Amazon. I'm Alex Press, a staff writer at Jacobin, and I'll be hosting the show. Consider Primer an entry point for understanding a company that is increasingly reshaping, mediating, and controlling our lives and the planet. On this introductory episode, I'm joined by Dania Rajendra, director of Athena , and Alessandro Delfanti , who has a forthcoming book on Amazon warehouse work. The three of us try to answer a pressing question: what exactly is Amazon? You can li...
Jun 10, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 1
This week, Grace speaks with Jason W. Moore, environmental historian and professor of sociology at Binghamton University, about capitalism and climate breakdown. They discuss his brilliant books, Capitalism in the Web of Life and Capitalocene or Anthropocene? , and ask what Marx can teach us about the multiple, overlapping ecological crises our planet is currently facing. Find Jason on Twitter: https://twitter.com/oikeios For access to the full episode, support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com...
Jun 09, 2021•40 min
Every Saturday at 1 PM ET, Ana Kasparian and Nando Vila broadcast live from the Jacobin YouTube channel. Weekends features free-flowing and humorous commentary on current events and political strategy. This is the podcast version of the show from June 5, 2021, with Jen Pan filling in for Nando. Thomas Frank joins us to talk about the "lab-leak" theory, why it's appealing to a large number of people, media coverage, and its political and social implications. We also cover the homelessness crisis ...
Jun 07, 2021•2 hr 11 min
Journalist Kate Aronoff discusses climate policy and politics and her book Overheated: How Capitalism Broke the Planet—And How We Fight Back. Support this podcast at Patreon.com/TheDig
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 40 min
Long Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine’s longform writers. Hosted by Features Editor Daniel Finn. On this episode, Dan is joined by Adam Mayer, author of Naija Marxisms: Revolutionary Thought in Nigeria , as well as Baba Aye, Nigerian activist who works for the international trade union Public Services International. Read Adam's piece "How Nigeria's Left Helped Shape the Country's History" here: https...
Jun 05, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Every Wednesday at 6 PM ET, The Jacobin Show offers socialist perspectives on class and capitalism in the twenty-first century, the failures of liberalism, and the prospects of rebuilding a left labor movement in the US. This is the podcast version of the show from June 2, 2021, with Jen Pan hosting and Nando Villa filling in as a guest host. Jacobin editor Bhaskar Sunkara joins us to discuss the promise and the limitations of social democracy in the twenty-first century, particularly after the ...
Jun 04, 2021•1 hr 32 min
Paul Schrader's FIRST REFORMED (2017) looks at a world that might be beyond saving, and asks: "How can we go on living?" We discuss how this great film about religion, capitalism, and the environment is a rare Movie Of The Moment that actually is one. PLUS: the legacy of Canada's residential schools.
Jun 02, 2021•42 min
In this week’s episode, Grace talks to writer and activist Hadas Thier about her excellent book A People’s Guide to Capitalism , in which she provides a concise and readable introduction to Marxist thought. They discuss key concepts like capital, class, and imperialism, and apply them to the current crisis gripping the capitalist world system. You can support our work on the show by becoming a Patron . Thanks to our producer Conor Gillies and the Lipman-Miliband Trust for making this episode pos...
Jun 02, 2021•44 min
Every Saturday at 1 PM ET, Ana Kasparian and Nando Vila broadcast live from the Jacobin YouTube channel. Weekends features free-flowing and humorous commentary on current events and political strategy. This is the podcast version of the show from May 29, 2021, with producer Cale filling in for Ana. René Rojas joins us to discuss how the people of Chile voted for sweeping structural reform and an end to neoliberalism. It’s one of the Left’s biggest victories since the end of Pinochet’s dictatorsh...
Jun 01, 2021•1 hr 30 min
Why has an oligarch like Elon Musk attracted so many admirers? To answer that question, we looked at the short puff-piece documentary THE RISE OF SPACEX: ELON MUSK'S ENGINEERING MASTERPIECE (2020), which presents the story of his outer-space initiatives the way he would like them to be seen. We examine the very real political implications of his "apolitical" tech-guru brand. PLUS: an odd new footnote to Canadian WWII history, the Amazon/MGM deal, and the surprising career trajectory of Tucker Ma...
Jun 01, 2021•42 min
How ecosocialists formed a powerful coalition with unions to fight for labor law reform and why we need a powerful labor movement to win a Green New Deal. An interview with four members of DSA's Green New Deal Campaign Committee: Ashik Siddique, Gustavo Gordillo, Sydney Ghazarian, and Thea Riofrancos. This is a collaborative episode with Bloc Party, a podcast from Justice Democrats. Ryan Grim's post on breaking the filibuster: badnews.substack.com/p/how-the-filibuster-goes-down Support this podc...
May 31, 2021•1 hr 45 min
Every Wednesday at 6 PM ET, The Jacobin Show offers socialist perspectives on class and capitalism in the twenty-first century, the failures of liberalism, and the prospects of rebuilding a left labor movement in the US. This is the podcast version of the show from May 26, 2021, with Paul Prescod and Jen Pan hosting. Alex Hochuli, co-host of the podcast Aufhebunga Bunga and co-author of the book The End of the End of History, joins us to discuss "Neoliberal Order Breakdown Syndrome" and the prof...
May 28, 2021•1 hr 30 min
This week, Grace speaks to Kate Aronoff, staff writer at The New Republic and author of the excellent new book Overheated: How Capitalism Broke the Planet and How We Fight Back . She’s also the co-author of We Own the Future: Democratic Socialism, American Style , and A Planet to Win: Why We Need a Green New Deal . They discuss Biden’s climate plan, the Green New Deal, and whether fossil fuel executives should be tried for crimes against humanity. You can support our work on the show by becoming...
May 27, 2021•43 min
