Dilemma Podcast

In this conversation with sociologist Nandita Sharma, we dig into the deep contradictions of nationalism, sovereignty, and the postcolonial state. Sharma argues that the nation is not a pathway to liberation but a mechanism of ruling that reproduces inequality, exclusion, and capitalist domination. We explore her personal story of migration, the legacy of anti-colonial struggles, Palestine and Hawaii today, the meaning of indigeneity, and her call for a planetary commons beyond rulers, borders, and citizenship. This is a provocative, challenging, and visionary dialogue about what true freedom might mean in our time and what the counterfeit version of it might be.BECOME A MEMBER - MONTHLY MEMBERS ONLY LIVESTREAM https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NIku35U9thGG9WBJjE0sw/join00:00 Coming Up…01:13 Become a Member02:30 Nandita Sharma - Before Thoughts07:46 The Elephant in the Room: Nationalism and a Personal Story12:23 Core Thesis of Home Rule16:17 Colonialism vs. National Sovereignty22:55 Nationalism Defined30:50 Are you Erasing Indigenousness?40:45 Palestine and the Trap of Nationhood52:12 History Didn’t Have to Be This Way58:14 The Vision of a Planetary Commons01:06:35 The Gen Z Protests and What Can We Do Now?01:15:03 No Borders and Migrant Struggles01:18:26 Palestinians Deserve Better Than a Nation State01:20:49 After Thought on “Decolonizing Our Conceptions of Freedom”01:23:56 Members Get the Spillover01:24:25 Next Guest PrepFor more from Jay visit whatjaythinks.com

A former Israel Consulate staffer for the U.S. Southeast—Brandt Burleson—breaks silence. For eight years he built church networks, wrote Bible-laced talking points, and helped run a PR machine that, in his words, “wrapped a starvation campaign in a Judeo-Christian bow.” He explains how Christian Zionist theology was leveraged to pressure politicians, how pastors were courted and choreographed, what he saw after October 7th (including raw screening sessions), why the line between “ally” and “apocalypse” talk got so blurry, and what finally broke his conscience. This is part confession, part anatomy of influence.BECOME A MEMBER - MONTHLY MEMBERS ONLY LIVESTREAM https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NIku35U9thGG9WBJjE0sw/join00:00 Coming Up…01:24 Become a Member / A Random Email from Brandt04:04 From Pastor's Son to Israel’s “Useful Idiot”07:43 An Ad on LinkedIn Changes Brandt’s Life12:29 Courting the Christian Zionists for Israel20:01 What Brandt's Colleagues Really Thought of Apocalyptic Christian Zionists26:32 The Israeli Cynics and Messianic Fanatics29:17 October 7th and the Religious Danger of Atrocity Propaganda37:23 Thoughts on the Selective Outrage about Violence and Religion40:49 Brandt Loses His Religion In a Swamp of Religious Contradictions43:24 The Palestinian Narrative, The Jewish Messiah, and The Red Heifers 46:55 What Was and Wasn’t Included in the October 7th Screenings50:49 The Rigged Global Political Structures That Enable Narrative Framing55:20 “I Really Hated Myself”59:24 On Coleman Hughes, Curated Israel Trips, and False Information01:02:32 Where Christianity and Christian Zionism Goes From Here01:07:26 How Brandt Left / “There are Things That Are Worse Than Being Unemployed”01:12:44 After Thought / Humanizing Extreme Violence and Revisiting a Boy Named NemrFor more from Jay visit whatjaythinks.com

In this conversation with political economist Adam Hanieh, we trace the deep connections between fossil fuels, finance, Palestine, and the climate crisis. From his formative years in Ramallah during the Second Intifada to his current research, Hanieh explains how oil became the invisible substrate of modern life, how Gulf petrodollars built today’s US-dominated financial order, and why Israel and the Gulf monarchies emerged as twin pillars of American power after 1967. We explore the global shift of oil toward China, the enduring grip of the dollar system, and why the liberation of Palestine must be understood as inseparable from struggles for climate justice and decolonization.Become a member to support my work and join the members only livestream where we can share ideas, critiques, responses, or other observations about our strange world. Final Sunday of each month. See you there!My interview on BettBeat Media on Israel, Zionism, Gaza, philosophy and more:    • Jay Shapiro EXPOSES the Truth About Israel...  Crude Capitalism by Adam Hanieh here: https://www.versobooks.com/products/2...Petrodollar Explained by Explains 101:    • America's Most Powerful Weapon Is Not Nuke...  00:00 Monthly Members Only Live Stream Announcement02:00 Coming up...02:34 Before Thoughts / “Our Analog World” and the Power of Oil12:30 From The Second Intifada to the Petrochemical Question15:38 The Ubiquitous and Invisible Age of Oil, The Substrate of Everything21:53 Western Capitalism, Colonialism, and the World Wars27:58 The Gulf States Become the “Oil Deposit That Matters”32:58 Post WW2 Anticolonialism and What Went Wrong in The Gulf States38:49 OPEC and an Attempt to Take Control of the Upstream41:08 Israel Works Itself Into the Region And Proves its “Value” in 196746:20 How Petro Monarchs Maintain Control52:09 Why Wasn’t Israel a Problem?56:58 The ‘73 OPEC Crisis, the Petrodollar System, and the Financial Structure Today1:08:06 Currency Wars, Climate Change, and China’s Rise1:16:00 The Sovereign Wealth Funds of the Gulf and The Arms Trade1:19:01 Israel and America’s Entangled Dollar Dominated Interests1:24:40 Disincentiving Fighting Climate Change1:28:35 Climate Justice and the Moral Horror of Palestine1:32:49 After Thoughts / Petrodollar Explained recommendation / HowTheLightGetsInFor more from Jay visit whatjaythinks.com

In this conversation, I sit down with Mubarak Awad, often called the Gandhi of Palestine. Born in Jerusalem during the Nakba, Mubarak’s life has been defined by both tragedy and resilience — from burying his father as a boy, to dedicating his life to nonviolent resistance under occupation. We trace his extraordinary journey: his efforts to teach nonviolence in Palestine, his eventual deportation by Israel, and his continued commitment to peace and justice in exile. Mubarak reflects on his life’s work, the heartbreak of displacement, and his current feelings about the ongoing struggle. This is the story of a man who refused to give up on nonviolence, even when enemies were everywhere on both sides.Find more about Mubarak Awad at nonviolenceinternational.net00:00 Coming Up - Before Thoughts01:32 A Childhood Before The State of Israel06:29 Violence On The Horizon and "We all Hate The British"12:25 1947 and 1948 And Losing His Father24:10 1967 and Israel Bulldozes Awad's House and Hopes in Nasser29:06 Yale or Lee College? And Seeing American Segregation36:40 Learning about Gandhi41:21 Palestinian Resistance in the 80's55:25 The Anger in the Palestinian Movement1:02:11 Why Is Israel Threatened by Non Violence "The Prefer I Throw Bombs"1:04.40 The Unforgettable Nakba and "Who Lived In This House?"1:10:05 The First Intifada and Awad's is Targeted and Deported1:23:06 Leaving Palestine1:29:53 The Violence Today and Hamas's Form of "Resistance"1:36:15 What Happens Next? "The Cloud is now on Gaza"1:41:25 After ThoughtsFor more from Jay visit whatjaythinks.com

A final word on my efforts to help (no matter what you think) people like Coleman Hughes and Sam Harris avoid falling into the Zionist trap. Thoughts on Israel’s “disengagement” from Gaza in 2005, and why we have so much trouble believing Israel’s stated intentions.00:00 Learned Skepticism of Israel and Coleman Repeating Lies09:02 Is Epstein a Mossad Agent? The Jonathan Pollard Pattern13:37 Disengaging from Gaza and the Intentions of the Blockade17:42 Advice: Leave The Free PressFor more from Jay visit whatjaythinks.com

In Part 2 of this 2 part conversation, we dive deeper into Gaza after Israel’s 2005 “withdrawal”, examine the blockade, restrictions, and the motives of a “starvation policy.” We also explore Israel’s close relationship with apartheid South Africa, and disagree on what these alliances reveal about the motives behind Zionism and occupation. The conversation turns toward justice vs peace in practice, and the moral weight of denying dignity. Stay tuned after the debate for my “Afterthoughts,” where I break down Coleman’s argumentation and share further reflections on justice, intention, and the future of Palestine.00:00 Intro Before Thoughts00:43 When Israel "Left" Gaza in 200507:14 Why is Egypt Different than Gaza and Western Interests19:09 What is Preventing Democracy?22:09 Israel and Apartheid South Africa doesn't Matter?26:00 Unplugging Cultural Touchpoints in Palestine by Zionists33:08 Deciphering Motivations of Zionism37:58 Understanding the Villain and Palestinian Resistance51:29 The Essentialism Charge and Nefarious Zionist Motivations1:01:06 Starvation and Motivations of Ethnic Cleansing1:10:38 Stated Israeli War Aims and the Zionist Territorial Aims1:17:42 After Thought 1 - Justice vs Peace and Material Gains1:19:11 After Thought 2 - "What they Didn't Do" as an Argument1:21:57 After Thought 3 - This Could All Make Sense, And Hamas Accepts a Ceasefire1:23:10 After Thought 4 - South Africa Apartheid and Israel Ties1:26:18 After Thought 5 - Who Will Live in Gaza?1:31:41 After Thought 6 - On Starvation Media Coverage and Losing Humanity1:36:14 After Thought 7 - Read More1:38:35 After Thought 8 - If You are Mad at Jews... Voices Against the OccupationWatch "Courage in the Divide" from 1986 https://youtu.be/-2UucKQuVK8?si=5-3xNqaQEVAoXxqz Breakdown of the methodology of the Penn State Poll we discussed https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/poll-show-most-jewish-israelis-support-expelling-gazans For more from Jay visit whatjaythinks.com

In part 1 of a 2 part conversation I attempt to engage with former co-host Coleman Hughes in a deep, difficult, and (hopefully) helpful debate about Israel, Palestine, Zionism, and the meaning of justice.We dig into:The “good guys vs bad guys” framing of Hamas and IsraelVillain origin stories and why history mattersZionism, the Nakba, and displacement in 1948Justice vs peace — what Palestinians are really seekingWhy moderate Palestinian voices are often silenced or eliminatedU.S. empire, oil, and how global power structures fuel the conflictThis is not a “gotcha” debate — it’s an attempt to really surface the philosophical differences behind how we analyze Palestine and Israel today with far reaching implications.Ghassan Kanafani’s “Letter from Gaza” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ThCEzFWLOQPART 2 HERE https://youtu.be/I7eofSg9wGo00:00 Coming Up - Before Thoughts04:35 The Hopes for the Conversation - Not Changing Minds but Display Difference08:09 Good Guys Bad Guys Israel v Hamas - What makes a Villain?17:04 Making Contact to the Nakba and talking about Neighbors23:59 The Zionist Motivations Pre 194826:16 Deciphering Intentions from History, Statements, Restraint33:30 What is the Palestinian Cause and How Would You Like to Achieve it?37:08 Essentialism and Skipping Over Nefarious Motivations42:59 The Motivations of the West and “Liberation” 48:09 Where is Palestinian Non Violent Resistance?53:03 After Thoughts - The "Jubilation" of Zionists and “Anger” of Palestinians in 194757:33 Ghassan Kanafani - And Picked Cherries in my HeadFor more from Jay visit whatjaythinks.com

In this wide-ranging conversation, political economist Patrick Bond joins me from Johannesburg to trace the lessons of South Africa’s struggles — from the fight against apartheid and Big Pharma to today’s battles over BRICS, Palestine, climate, and global capital. We dig into the meaning of “sub-imperialism,” the hypocrisies of governments that talk left but walk right, and the urgent question of how to end genocide and ecological collapse in real time. What does internationalism look like after the failure of unipolar power? And can “power to the people” still break the system’s grip?0:00 – Coming Soon / Intro5:23 – From Wharton to Mandela’s Office14:36 – Where are we within capitalism and BRICS?22:33 – BRICS: Anti-Empire or Just Sub-Empire?31:06 – Slaying the Neoliberal Dragon35:14 My Enemy’s Enemy?39:23 Botha and the Rubicon43:25 Imperialism and Zionism and the Revolutionary Violence Moment52:50 The Hypocrisy of BRICS and Israel57:53 – “Hague-Schmague”: When International Law Collapses1:05:31 – Gaza and why won’t anyone do anything?1:15:17 – Western Liberals and “Zionism”?1:24:32 – After Thoughts and Next GuestLessons of Black Panther: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s02e07-the-lessons-of-black-panther-chloe-valdary/id1470490447?i=1000489634117For more from Jay visit whatjaythinks.com

Political economist Radhika Desai offers a Marxist reading of today’s global crises — from Gaza to the dollar’s fragility. We unpack why she believes capitalism has reached its monopoly stage, why it cannot function without imperialism, and how those contradictions shape everything from U.S. foreign policy to BRICS. Gaza becomes a stark example of how imperial systems maintain power, revealing the collapse of Western moral authority and the violent logic built into capitalism itself.FREE DOWNLOAD (thanks to Knowledge Unlatched) Capitalism Coronavirus and War https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/59799 More from jay at whatjaythinks.com0:00:00 Coming Up…0:00:55 Before Thoughts — Questions Answered Through a Marxist Lens0:06:41 The Dinner Table Spark — Teenage Curiosity to a Career in Geopolitics0:13:30 Where Are We Now? — Or When are we according to Marx0:28:40 Capitalism as a Particular System — Cyclical Thinking, Historical Thinking & Western Decline0:37:03 The Hidden Rule — Why Capitalism Always Demands Exploitation & Imperialism0:43:04 Was the U.S. Ever in Charge? — Multipolarity in Past and Present0:59:00 BRICS at 51% — Can the Bloc Really Challenge Western Hegemony?1:08:01 From Gold to Bubbles — The Dollar’s Rise, Fall, and Fragile Future1:13:01 The Gaza Turning Point — Western Hypocrisy and the Loss of Moral Authority1:19:04 A Capitalist War — Gaza, Resources, and Built-In System Contradictions1:29:18 After Thoughts — Next Guests Patrick Bond Coleman Hughes and a Vinyl Record

Some thoughts on authoritarianism and humanism with a passage from Erich Fromm's Psychoanalysis and Religion from 195000:00 Authoritarianism as forms of "worship"08:36 Fromm on Authoritarian and Humanistic Trends within Religion14:00 What Humanism asks of us16:39 The upcoming lineup