What happens when the world's reserve currency faces a crisis of confidence, yet alternatives remain elusive? Emmanuel Daniel, author of "The Great Transition: The Personalization of Finance," offers a fascinating perspective on this paradox that defines our current global economic moment. The dollar's remarkable resilience stems from an unexpected source – American indifference. "The US doesn't care. And that's how the dollar became global," Daniel explains. With approximately 70% of dollars ci...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Season 2Ep. 22
What does a truly democratic American future require? The Marxist Unity Group believes nothing short of revolution will deliver it. In this compelling conversation, MUG members Cliff Connolly, Amy Wilhelm, Jean Allen, and Aliyah Van Pelt outline their vision for transforming both the Democratic Socialists of America and American politics through programmatic unity and revolutionary change. At the core of MUG's approach is their draft program - a minimum-maximum framework that clearly articulates...
Jul 07, 2025•2 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 21
The domestication of plants and animals represents one of the most profound transformations in our species' history—yet few of us understand how dramatically it has reshaped not just the organisms involved, but our entire planet's ecology. In this fascinating conversation with Joy of Zoognosis and Mimbres School , we unpack the complex biological and social dimensions of domestication that have created the world we inhabit today. Did you know that domesticated livestock and humans together compr...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 49 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Professor Matthew McManus joins us to explore liberal socialism, the right's evolution, and the shifting global political landscape. • Carlo Rossellini's work articulates a socialism that confronts both Marxist determinism and fascism • Rossellini criticized Italian leftists for failing to understand fascism's emotional appeal • Liberal socialism aims to make the promise of freedom true for everyone, especially the working poor • Mouffe and Laclau's influential work acknowledges the importance o...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Capitalism's crisis theories reveal more about leftist political failures than economic reality, as deterministic approaches miss the cultural dimensions of decay while simultaneously failing to deliver the promised revolutionary outcomes. • Examining Aufheben's' "Decadence, the Theory of Decline or Decline of Theory" as a framework for understanding how leftists conceptualize capitalism's decay • Crisis theories traditionally mark WWI as capitalism's turning point toward decline, though interpr...
Jun 16, 2025•2 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Flamenco's haunting rhythms carry centuries of suppressed memories—the echoes of Spain's Jewish and Muslim communities, expelled and erased through centuries of ethnic cleansing. Yet somehow, these cultural memories persist through sound and verse, creating what poet Ben Meyerson calls "diasporic memory." In this conversation that spans continents and centuries, Meyerson takes us deep into the inspiration behind his collection "Seguirías," named after a flamenco form known for its mournful depth...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 43 min•Season 2Ep. 18
The foundations of modern liberal democracy weren't forged in the ideals of freedom and equality alone, but in the disciplined halls of Prussian military academies. In this wide-ranging conversation, Nicolas Villarreal reveals how the professional military education system that emerged in 19th century Germany created the bureaucratic apparatus that would spread across the world and enable liberal democratic capitalism to function. What emerges is a fascinating dialectic that shapes our current p...
Jun 02, 2025•3 hr 33 min•Season 2Ep. 17
America's hidden Marxist history reveals a country where radical ideas took root in ways we've deliberately forgotten. Dr. Andrew Hartman takes us on a journey through this erased past, uncovering how deeply Marx's ideas penetrated American society from the Civil War through today. Marx himself was surprisingly connected to America, writing hundreds of articles for the New York Tribune—the world's most-read newspaper in the 1850s—and developing key theories about labor and freedom through his an...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 50 min•Season 2Ep. 16
What happens when we trace the unexpected influences between seemingly unrelated poetic traditions? In this exploration of German poetry's impact on American counterculture, we discover the fascinating connections between renowned German-language poets Rainer Maria Rilke and Paul Salon with Cleveland's underground literary icon DA Levy. Levy, a Cleveland poet and publisher active in the 1960s who faced obscenity trials and ultimately committed suicide, created work that resonates with Rilke's my...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 31 min•Season 2Ep. 16
What if I told you one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century wasn't just a Nazi sympathizer, but that fascism was fundamental to his entire philosophical project? In this profound conversation with Colin Bodayle, doctoral student in philosophy at Villanova University, we peel back the sanitized layers of Martin Heidegger's legacy to reveal the uncomfortable truth behind his continued influence. The mystification around Heidegger's Nazism represents one of academia's most persi...
May 12, 2025•2 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 15
As normie conservatives casually throw around terms like "Bonapartist" to describe Trump's new administration, we've entered a peculiar moment where Marxist terminology has infiltrated mainstream political discourse—often without its theoretical underpinnings. This wide-ranging conversation explores the historical parallels between today's political landscape and 19th century France, when General Boulanger's right-wing populist movement tempted certain leftists into dangerous alliances. Donald P...
May 05, 2025•2 hr 35 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Dr. Vanessa Wills takes us on an intellectual journey through the heart of Marx's ethical vision – perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of his revolutionary philosophy. As we trace her path from anti-war activism to Marxist scholarship, Dr. Wills demolishes the persistent myth that Marx had no ethics or moral framework. Instead, she reveals how his entire project was fundamentally concerned with human flourishing, dignity, and liberation. The conversation cuts through decades of academic confus...
Apr 28, 2025•2 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 12
America's constitutional foundation is buckling under the weight of executive fiat, with a president governing almost exclusively through executive orders while Congress passes fewer bills than at any point in history. Elijah Emery comes back to discuss the following: • Executive power has been expanding since WWII, but the current administration represents an acceleration of this trend with open defiance of court orders • Legal analysis shows virtually everything the administration has implemen...
Apr 24, 2025•2 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Behind the celebrated image of Jimmy Carter as a Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian lies a presidential legacy that demands closer examination. This revealing conversation with historian Robert Buzzanco challenges the sanitized narrative of Carter's presidency, exposing how he functioned as a crucial transitional figure between postwar liberalism and the full flowering of neoliberalism under Reagan. Buzzanco methodically dismantles popular misconceptions, documenting how Carter accelerated C...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 11
The episode explores Hegel's complex understanding of freedom as self-determination and its historical evolution through time, juxtaposed with Kant and Rousseau's perspectives. It emphasizes that freedom is a relational and collective struggle that necessitates recognition and social action, questioning the practical implications of Hegel's thought in contemporary movements for change. - Examining Hegel's definition of freedom as self-determination - Historical context: freedom's evolution throu...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 31 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Is U.S. foreign policy under President Biden really different from Trump's approach? Join us as we welcome Daniel Bessner from the American Prestige podcast to unravel this and other pressing questions, with a bold examination of leftist perspectives on international relations. We scrutinize the position of Palestine within American leftist discourse and consider whether shifts in younger generations' opinions might eventually sway U.S. foreign policy. Student protests and divestment movements a...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Sudip Bhattacharya joins us to unravel the post-Trump landscape of socialist strategy, wading through the murky waters of political transitions and internal leftist tensions. How can we nurture class consciousness and fight against anti-DEI rhetoric that threatens to strip away essential rights? Together, Sudip and I confront these urgent questions, examining the evolution of the Republican Party towards Western chauvinism and the unsettling alliance between tech oligarchs and Trump's agenda. As...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 9
What if the concept of decadence holds the key to understanding our societal and political structures today? This episode challenges traditional narratives by dissecting Samir Amin's unfinished work on revolution and decadence through a Marxist lens. We navigate through Afibung's critique of decadence theory, contrasting Marxist views with more coherent conservative critiques of current institutions. Furthermore, we tackle the pressing issues in the education systems of the U.S. and Britain and ...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 53 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Exploring the intersection of fandom culture and political engagement reveals a new landscape of activism and ideology. Our discussion with Joshua Citarella of Doomscroll emphasizes how passionate fandoms are shaping today's political climate, shifting the nature of activism beyond traditional frameworks and leading to a more dynamized political identity among the youth. • The merging of fandom and political culture • Young activists leveraging fandoms for change • Challenges of superficial enga...
Apr 01, 2025•3 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Katherine Dee, the writer behind the "Default Blog" on Substack, joins us to explore the unexpected legacy of Art Bell and how his non-political, free-form radio style contrasts with today's charged conspiracy culture. Discover the intriguing intersections between Bell's approach and modern figures like Joe Rogan and Alex Jones, and how these dynamics have shaped contemporary internet culture. We reflect on the transition from Bell's open dialogue to a more politically saturated landscape, offer...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 37 min•Season 2Ep. 5
We begin a NEW season here at Varn Vlog after 4 years of recording. The episode explores the complexities of liberal socialism, emphasizing its potential to bridge the ideals of liberalism and socialism through mutual values like equality and freedom with Dr. Matt McManus. The discussion engages with historical perspectives, critiques from Marxists, and contemporary applicability, ultimately fostering a deeper understanding of the past and future of these interconnected ideologies through a disc...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 4
The episode dives into the complex duality of Noam Chomsky as a linguist and an activist, revealing the schism between his scientific work and political beliefs. Through insights from Dr. Chris Knight, listeners explore how Chomsky's theories, while revolutionary, risk disconnecting from social context and the critical implications this has for understanding human communication. Join us for a compelling conversation with Dr. Chris Knight, author of "Decoding Chomsky," as we explore the fascinati...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Season 2Ep. 3
What if the very pillars of American democracy are being shaken right before our eyes? Join me and our insightful guest, Elijah Emery, a law student with a keen eye for constitutional intricacies, as we explore the Trump administration's contentious policy decisions that challenge the core principles of U.S. constitutional law. We start with the audacious attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship, which stands in stark opposition to the 14th Amendment and established Supreme Court rulings. The...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 2
This episode navigates the intricate relationship between poetry and politics, featuring insights from poet Bianca Stone. We discuss the nuances of non-didactic poetry, the historical implications of literary voices, and how poetry serves as a vessel for personal and collective experiences. Bianca Stone is a Vermont-based poet. Stone’s newest book is What is Otherwise Infinite, (Tim House 2022). She is the host of Ode and Psyche podcast. Stone’s poems, art, book reviews, and essays have appeared...
Mar 03, 2025•2 hr 38 min•Season 2Ep. 1
The episode dives deep into the connection between capitalism and our digital identities, exploring themes of addiction, anxiety, and the pursuit of validation in the online realm. Mike Watson articulates the detrimental effects of social media on mental health while highlighting the need for authentic community engagement beyond mere digital expressions. Mike Watson is an editor at Revol Press and the co-host of Theorize And Be Damned. He is the author of Hungry Ghosts in the Machine: Digital C...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 45 min•Season 1Ep. 300
What if the revolutions that shaped our world were never meant to begin in the most advanced nations? Join VarnVlog and Regrettable Century as we unravel the intricate tapestry of revolutionary decadence and world systems theory, exploring the profound insights of Samir Amin, Giovanni Arrighi, and Emmanuel Wallerstein. We embark on a journey through Amin's critical examination of Eurocentrism and his bold stance during the Egyptian revolution, where his support for the liberal side against Islam...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 48 min•Season 1Ep. 299
Benjamin Studebaker unpacks the complexities of legitimacy and ideology in liberal democracies, revealing how these narratives shape our understanding of political engagement. The conversation emphasizes the need for constructive alternatives within political discourse and challenges listeners to confront the narratives they adopt and the implications of their political apathy. • Introduction to the concept of legitimacy in the context of liberal democracies • Exploring the relationship between ...
Feb 10, 2025•2 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 298
The episode explores the fragmentation of the left in America following the Bernie Sanders phenomenon. It examines the dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party, the struggle of third parties like the Green Party, and the rise of alternative political ideologies among disillusioned leftists. • Reflection on Bernie Sanders' impact and legacy • Analysis of the fragmentation within leftist movements post-Bernie • Critique of the Green Party's recent efforts and historical failures • Examination of ...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 40 min•Season 1Ep. 297
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Chris Catron as we dissect the evolving dynamics of leftist movements, from the millennial wave to the emerging Zoomer left. We're making the bold statement that the recent Leninist turn intertwined with neo-Kautskyism is reshaping contemporary leftist politics. Exploring the rise of neo-Stalinist and Trotskyist tendencies, we also tackle the challenges faced by groups like the Democratic Socialists of America in integrating Trotskyist organizati...
Feb 03, 2025•2 hr 43 min•Season 1Ep. 296
Dr. Djene Bajalan joins us to unpack the intricate dynamics of alternative media and its influence on Middle Eastern politics. Ever wondered how alternative media might mirror the biases of its mainstream counterpart? Our conversation explores this fascinating intersection, focusing on the challenges pundits face in providing evidence-based analysis, particularly in the context of the Syrian conflict. We delve into the nuances of parasocial relationships within alternative media, contrasting it ...
Jan 30, 2025•2 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 297
