3596 - Raining Death on Iranians to Free Them; Escape from Capitalism w/ Clara Mattei

Mar 9, 2026

Clara Mattei, economics professor and founder of the Forum for Real Economic Emancipation, outlines alternatives to austerity and capitalist growth. She discusses organizing Tulsa around participatory budgeting and production for use. Short, sharp conversations cover how austerity functions politically, rethinking GDP, and building grassroots assemblies to pressure institutions.

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INSIGHT

Austerity Is Built Into Capitalism

Austerity is embedded in capitalism because maintaining profits requires disciplining workers through cuts, privatization, and wage repression.
Clara Mattei links Mussolini's austerity playbook to modern fiscal policies that prioritize investor returns over social needs.

INSIGHT

Oil Rain Over Tehran Causes Mass Health and Environmental Harm

Military strikes on Tehran's oil facilities produced oil-laden black rain that creates immediate respiratory and long-term carcinogenic risks for millions in Tehran.
Sam Seder and Emma Vigeland describe thick black plumes, oil-saturated rain, and a black film on streets and buildings after U.S.-Israeli attacks on oil storage and refinery sites.

INSIGHT

Growth Masks Exploitation And Unpaid Labor

GDP growth hides unpaid labor and rising exploitation because monetary growth measures value, not who produced it or who benefits.
Mattei argues productivity gains often increase surplus captured by capital rather than workers' wages.

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It's Fun Day Monday on The Majority Report On today's program: The U.S. struck oil facilities around Tehran, Iran, an attack that has triggered an environmental disaster. With massive fuel depots burning, rain mixed with soot and petroleum residue is now falling over the city, leaving a toxic, oily film across streets, buildings, and vehicles.

After Donald Trump called for Iran's "unconditional surrender," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the term simply means whatever Trump says it means. Trump takes to Truth Social to claim to essentially claim victory in Iran in a quintessential confused post from the president.

Professor Clara Mattei joins the program to discuss her new book Escape from Capitalism: An Intervention. Clara is a professor of Economics at the University of Tulsa and the founder of Forum for Real Economic Emancipation (FREE). For more from Mattei, check the FREE YouTube channel. In the Fun Half: Senator Lindsey Graham is on a Fox News morning show still drunk from celebrating a new war as he shouts for Trump to invade Cuba next. Christian fundamentalist, Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) says we have a 'biblical responsibility' to Israel. Jake Tapper tells Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) that if he votes against $50 billion in funds for operations in Iran than it will be cast as a vote against the troops. Ben Shapiro's eyebrows are exploding. Olivia Reingold reports on tweets that Mayor Mamdani's wife liked. all that and more To connect and organize with your local ICE rapid response team visit ICERRT.com

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