The criminal and vile escalation of Israel's aggression in Lebanon has forced 10s of thousands to flee the South. In lieu of a government, organizations, grassroots groups, and local communities have been stepping in and doing, essentially, the government's work - to provide for and protect its population. I'm dedicating this episode to talking about one of these groups, which has in fact been operating since 2020, and which I helped found. It's a group I'm proud to be a part of and whose member...
Sep 27, 2024•26 min
569 people killed in 2 days in Lebanon by the same people committing genocide in Gaza and moving to annex the West Bank. The Israelis are truly unhinged. Their aggression on the south of Lebanon has steadily increased over the last year. But yesterday was different. I provide an overview of what happened yesterday, Sept 23rd, and demonstrate that the Israelis are indeed speed-running through the playbook they have developed in Gaza over the last year. I share other thoughts on the issue in gener...
Sep 25, 2024•40 min
In the last 4 days, Israel has essentially declared war on all of Lebanon. With its mass electronic terrorist attack on Sept 17, followed by similar attacks the following down, and yesterday, Sept 20, they attacked the southern suburbs of Beirut with a bunker buster bomb. All told, Israel has killed more than 70 people and injured thousands of others. They have also increased their illegal, terrorising fly-overs across Lebanon and have drones that buzzed all throughout the night. They claim this...
Sep 21, 2024•37 min
42 years ago today, far-right anti-Palestinian Christian militias in Lebanon committed the most horrendous massacre of the 15-year long Lebanese civil wars. With the heavy support of Israeli forces, who were occupying Beirut at the time, these militias (most notably the Lebanese Forces) killed up to 3500 Palestinians and Lebanese over 3 days. In this first filmed episode of this podcast, I talk about this massacre, providing a brief overview of the lead-up to it, as well as its continued relevan...
Sep 17, 2024•47 min
'Hate' is a terrible way of understanding fascism and all forms of bigotry. Claiming to be against it seems to be more of a balm for the already protected subject, but does nothing for those that are violating, persecuting, and targeting by these violent structures. It is a moral statement, a pretty boring one, and not a political one. Despite this, its a very popular thing here in the imperial centers. I discuss this among other topics including: comments from my recent video essay (on Arab nat...
Sep 02, 2024•41 min
Its a genuine question. Is it even a thing? Or is there a better term/framework?I also talk about how it seems that tankies have finally realized Sudan exists and ofc are producing the worst takes - with it creating harm and distractions. -- -- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a member of our Patreon? --> Patreon
Aug 24, 2024•29 min
'Organize' is one of those words thats used a lot but needs to be critically examined for each respective situation, space, struggle etc. In building strong, long-lasting, and powerful movements, we need to make sure that the human connections within are built on trust, respect, and duty - especially enough to deal with conflict. I share my thoughts on this as well as other things like how there was a public Swiftie concert 20 meters away from a Palestine protest in downtown Vienna, and how dyst...
Aug 12, 2024•28 min
I'm so tired. -- -- Tip Jar: https://buymeacoffee.com/poldep Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fromtheperiphery
Aug 05, 2024•23 min
It's becoming increasingly difficult to talk about things, my feelings, my thoughts. --- --- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a member of our Patreon? --> Patreon
Jul 28, 2024•14 min
In preparation for a video essay I'm developing, I decided to do an episode where I talk about the themes, arguments, and histories I've been examining and trying to synthesize. Definitely a ramble, but a potentially interesting one. Also, I have this weird tendency to emulate people's manner of speech when I read/listen to them too much (in this case, there are certain points, I'm basically just cosplaying as Edward Said). Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a...
Jul 19, 2024•35 min
The world, especially the global south, desperately needs a strong internationalist left. There are some who think they're part of it, but are in fact doing incredible amounts of harm to communities that they de-facto erase in their analysis. These are the 'Tankies'. Is it white supremacy on the left, a conspiratorial world view, or just a lazy inability to understand the many systems of power and domination that exist in different contexts (and that local communities continue to resist)? People...
Jul 13, 2024•34 min
It feels like fewer people are talking about Palestine. Has the supression of protests worked? Are people burntout, or have they lost interest? The unfathomable amount of violence cannot normalized. If it is, then its all doomed for sure. In this episode, I of course talk about G*z* as well as the nationalist mob violence against Syrian refugees in Turkey (and briefly in Lebanon). -- -- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a member of our Patreon? --> Patr...
Jul 05, 2024•36 min
I watched the 'debate'. I watched U.Sians (esp liberals) freaking out. Even the NYT is turning against Biden. It truly is a shitshow, but one in which all of our fates are attached. We need bold movements to counter both rising fascism and this privelaged resignation (e.g. 'we're so cooked'). I don't know, this episode is also a bit of a ramble. It's hard to think straight when Israel is threating to send your home country 'to the stone age' on the daily. --- --- Want to give me a small tip? --&...
Jun 29, 2024•29 min
With the grim prospects of an expanded war in Lebanon, I share my grim Lebanese analysis. --- --- --- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a member of our Patreon? --> Patreon
Jun 22, 2024•32 min
I've known this story for years. It has deeply affected my ways of thinking and understanding both myself and the world around me. I'll let it speak for itself for now, but I will probably discuss in a future episode what it means to me. I hope you appreciate this reading and apologize in advance for some of the clunky translations (the only English translation is from some white guy in the 80s and cross-checking with the original, it does seem he's made some weird choices). --- --- Want to give...
Jun 18, 2024•41 min
Witnessing the genocide in Gaza, and the barbaric violence of the Zionist state, has made imagining a better world near impossible. The question on everyone's mind, after each new massacre, each new escalation, is where do we go from here? How do we go on? What is the point of it all? There are obviously no definitive answers, but I talk about a couple of new nourishing insights which have helped me reframe some things. --- --- Want to give me a small tip? --> Tip Jar Want to become a membe...
Jun 14, 2024•21 min
I read out a short story written by the great Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani. The power of his words remain as relevant as it ever did. I'll periodically do readings like this and of course open to recommendations. Read the short story here --- --- Support this podcast: Tip jar: https://buymeacoffee.com/poldep Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/firethesetimes...
Jun 11, 2024•14 min
I go off on one. I can't. As a queer arab, as an anti-capitalist, anti-racist, anti-imperialist, as someone whose eyes are bloodshot with rage and heart is constantly breaking over the ongoing genocide in Gaza, I thoroughly reject Pride in its most popular co-opted forms. Pride is a protest, not a surrender to and integration into white supremacist capitalist heteropatriarchal ways of relating to one another, the state, and our queer siblings and comrades around the globe. Also who keeps invitin...
Jun 08, 2024•25 min
I've been thinking about collapse for at least 5 years now. It's a formitive concept for me, how I understand the world we live in. I think as time goes on, as history plays its course, collapse will spread. It is very definitive in the peripheries, but not as clear in the imperial cores. Collapse creates uncertainty and new possibilites. Although that means some good new stuff can come from it, it is crushingly obvious that it is the prefered circumstances of monsters. How do we prevent collaps...
Jun 01, 2024•28 min
I sat with israa abd el-fattah to talk about the Palestine Watch Party, a series of online watch parties I've beeng curating and hosting over the last few months. israa has been a long-time participant and our conversation about the space both gives an overview of our experiences with the watch parties as well as gives an insight into how those conversations and discussions usually go - the space we hold for each other, our pain, and varied experiences. If you want to join us the sign up link is...
May 26, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Tweet anything about Syrians in Lebanon and they'll appear. Say that Lebanese people are Arabs and you'll hear them bark. Look at the history of the failed colonial project that is Lebanon, and you'll see them everywhere. This is an obviously provocative title, but an honest one; many don't even hide it. They're not just strange characters, but very dangerous political actors whose ideologies and sadistic desires are being manifested as a state level. Incredibly concerning given the normalizatio...
May 17, 2024•25 min
The genocidal violence in Gaza is escalating and so is the response by students around the world. -- -- Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/firethesetimes Tip Jar: https://buymeacoffee.com/poldep
May 09, 2024•26 min
A Clockwork Orange is not about human nature, it's about European fascism. This is at least my reading of it. I've been thinking a lot about it as we're seeing the European centre shift drastically to the right in defence of the ongoing Israeli genocide in Palestine. In this episode I share my analysis and reading of A Clockwork Orange that I think illuminates some terrifying and bizarre aspects of the current moment. -- -- To support this podcast: Patreon: Patreon.com/firethesetimes Tip Jar: bu...
May 03, 2024•30 min
I talk with one of my favourite internet people Dana Saleh. She's a Palestinian comedian based in Montreal who I've followed for years, and always knew we would get along great - and we did! We talk about comedy, Palestine, liberation, grief, and everything in between. I hope you enjoy this episode. Dana's Socials: Twitter TikTok Instagram Support this podcast: Patreon: https://patreon.com/firethesetimes Tip Jar: https://buymeacoffee.com/poldep Join the Palestine Watch Party: https://forms.gle/y...
Apr 26, 2024•1 hr 24 min
The real extent of the Al-Shifa Massacre are still being uncovered. Every day new mass graves. Every day new horrors. All the while the genocide continues unabated. The white phosphorus is raining down on South Lebanon. Settler violence is accelerating. I don't know how to contain myself. But we can't look away, we can't stop talking. -- -- -- Tip me at: https://buymeacoffee.com/poldep Keep This Between Us (Sub-series): https://www.patreon.com/collection/468212...
Apr 19, 2024•22 min
Fascist gangs are roaming the streets looking for Syrians. It's terrifying and needs to be stopped. I talk about this recent surge of violence, its short history, but also I give a bit of a primer on Lebanon - which turns out to be incredibly difficult to do. I'll probably do more like these cause the urgent situation calls for it, but also to elaborate on some of the stuff I touch on here. *Correction: The Tal al-Zaatar Massacre happens in 76' not in 75' as I state in the episode. --- --- TipJa...
Apr 12, 2024•33 min
Nada is one of my favourite people. She's funny, interesting, unique - basically a person whose presence in my life I miss so much. We talk about Beirut, Gaza, her coverage of the war in Lebanon, and so much more in between. I sincerely hope you are enjoying these interviews because I've really enjoyed recording them - insofar as I'm 'enjoying' anything these days. -- -- TipJar: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poldep Keep This Between Us Subseries: https://www.patreon.com/collection/468212?view=exp...
Apr 05, 2024•1 hr 14 min
This is an interview with Sudanese writer, editor, and commentator Sara Al-Hassan. We talk about her writing and coverage of the current war in Sudan, the frustrating hashtag discourse, and feelings of grief at the mass atrocities in Sudan, Gaza, and beyond. We talk about other things as well. Note: Interview episodes like this are gonna be longer than my solo episodes. I hope you all still appreciate them. Tip Jar : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poldep My comic on Sudan (with recommended reading...
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 16 min
No words feel like they live up to the current moment. We all need to do more, especially those who can and are waiting for something to push them. The warning bells couldn't be louder. Act now. Before it's too late. TipJar https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poldep Instagram https://www.instagram.com/politically_depressed/ Sign-Up Link Watch Party https://forms.gle/zHKPhWfYGw1uQNMM7...
Mar 22, 2024•25 min
Vulnerability is strength. Existence is resistance. Justice will prevail. What meaning do sayings like these hold in our world of collapse and crisis? With mass atrocities across our region, I wonder about how people hold on and struggle against despair. Tip Jar: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poldep Mentions: https://unicornriot.ninja/revolution-in-every-country/ https://shop.mangalmedia.net/products/a-letter-home-ayman-makarem-hisham-rifai Instagram: @politically_depressed Love and Solidarity....
Mar 15, 2024•23 min
