Jacobin Radio

Aurélie Daher, political scientist who studies Hezbollah and Lebanese politics, explains Israel’s ongoing strikes on Lebanon, civilian tolls, and limits of airpower against guerrilla tactics. David Bier, immigration policy analyst, digs into ICE data, expanded arrests, low violent-conviction rates among detainees, and how enforcement shifted toward broad sweeps and politicized nativism.

Nick Srnicek, academic and author on the digital economy and technology politics. He maps the AI stack from chips to apps. He explores business models chasing AGI and how cloud providers exert control. He compares U.S. and China tech strategies and the rise of techno‑nationalism. He discusses automation’s uneven effects on work and the political stakes of AI’s militarization.

Dylan Riley, a UC Berkeley sociologist who studies class formation, and Robert Brenner, an economic historian of capitalism, discuss Trumpism as a coherent counterrevolutionary project. They trace its roots to long economic stagnation and a split between credentialed and non‑credentialed workers. They focus on attacks on universities, expansion of the security state as jobs policy, AI displacing credentialed labor, and the unraveling of the international order.

Forrest Hylton, a historian and writer focused on Latin America and a contributor to the London Review of Books, dives into the complexities of Venezuela's political landscape. He discusses the enduring influence of the military under Maduro and the historical roots of Venezuelan nationalism. Hylton highlights how oil dependence has shaped the economy, the impact of the Caracazo riots on political systems, and the challenges facing progressive movements post-Chávez. He also critiques the U.S. stance in the region and its implications for Venezuelan sovereignty.

Vivek Chibber, a political theorist and editor at Catalyst, discusses the unique challenges faced by the American labor movement. He delves into how American exceptionalism stunted the growth of a labor party, the role of craft unionism versus industrial unionism, and the violent repression that unions faced. Chibber explains how racial tensions and mass immigration complicated solidarity among workers, and he highlights the pivotal changes brought by the New Deal, while questioning its adequacy as a social democratic solution.

Joining the discussion are Kevan Harris, a UCLA historian focused on Iran's political economy, and Yassamine Mather, an Iranian scholar and activist. They explore the recent protests in Iran, sparked by economic grievances related to a phone tax. Mather highlights the dangers of foreign intervention and media distortions, while Harris discusses the brutal state repression and the challenges of elite paralysis. Both guests stress that the ongoing struggle reflects deep-rooted discontent, with calls for international solidarity from the working class.

Tony Wood, a Professor of Latin American history at the University of Colorado Boulder, shares insights on the recent US attack on Venezuela and its implications for the Latin American left. He discusses the regional rightward shift in politics and how left-wing governments relate to Maduro's regime. Wood highlights the potential risks for Colombia's Gustavo Petro and Cuba's fragile situation. He also evaluates how US policies reflect a revival of the Monroe Doctrine, posing challenges for regional anti-imperial movements amidst economic dependencies.

Aslı Bâli, a law professor specializing in human rights, and Greg Grandin, a historian focusing on U.S. imperialism, dissect the MAGA model of U.S. foreign policy. They explore how Trump's approach mixes resource exploitation with ethno-nationalism. The conversation delves into the implications of U.S. interventions in Venezuela, linking coercion strategies to domestic policing under Trumpism. They also discuss the risks of these tactics backfiring in Latin America and the erosion of liberal internationalism amid rising global multipolarity.

In a deep dive with Jacob Mundy, a peace and conflict studies professor at Colgate University, this discussion unpacks the tumultuous history of Western Sahara. Mundy shares insights on Morocco's 1975 invasion, the refugee crisis, and the early military successes of the Polisario. He explores the complexities of international support, including the roles of Algeria and Libya. The podcast also addresses the impact of U.S. policies, such as the 2020 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty, and the implications for ongoing conflicts and regional dynamics.

Alejandro Velasco, a historian and expert on Venezuela, delves into the country’s economic recovery amidst hyperinflation and political repression following contested elections. He discusses the enduring legacy of Chavismo, the challenges faced by Maduro, and the implications of U.S. foreign policy. Eric Blanc analyzes Victor Berger’s controversial racial history, showcasing his transformation from a white supremacist to an anti-racist leader. Blanc argues for the relevance of sewer socialism's lessons for contemporary leftist movements.