Bad Faith

Tonery Rose, an independent diplomatic-history researcher who maps intelligence-linked finance, and Aaron Good, political scientist and author on empire and the deep state. They trace Epstein and BCCI into Iran Contra, Les Wexner links, and shifting elite power. Short, sharp takes on covert finance, Zionist influence in U.S. policy, and how these networks shaped the lead-up to the Iran war.

Wyatt Cenac, comedian and writer known for sharp cultural takes, and Josh Olson, screenwriter and podcast veteran, reunite to spar over Star Trek's new Starfleet Academy. They debate fandom backlash, identity politics, and whether modern plots feel checklist-driven. Conversation jumps from Strange New Worlds' comforts to a controversial gay Klingon storyline.

Kshama Sawant, former Seattle City Councilmember and socialist organizer running for Congress, returns to lay out strategy for rebuilding militant labor power. She critiques business unionism and establishment-friendly electeds. She discusses using electoral leverage, the Epstein file releases and power dynamics, and why bold tactics like strikes and civil disobedience are necessary.

Cameron Kasky, activist and Parkland survivor turned youth advocate. Issa Nakazawa, astrologer and podcast host bringing astrological and political lens. F.D Signifier, video essayist known for cultural criticism. They debate male loneliness, contemporary dating logistics, intimacy and porn, marriage as teamwork, changing norms around monogamy, and how social media and economic pressures reshape partnerships.

Chris Hedges, Pulitzer-winning journalist and theologian known for hard-hitting critique of empire, joins to debate urgent resistance strategies. They discuss immediate organizing vs preparedness. He talks about sustaining civil disobedience, building visible street movements, and his work with communities confronting state power. The conversation also touches on Epstein, Noam Chomsky, and tensions in left strategy.

Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly, Professor of African American Studies and anti-imperialist scholar, joins to discuss culture and power. They dissect the backlash to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl gestures and what celebrity politics can and cannot achieve. Conversation turns to Trump’s racist viral video and the politics of Black representation. They also probe the stakes for Black candidates in Texas primaries and centrist pro-growth pivots.

Gabriel Rockhill, philosopher and director of the Critical Theory Workshop, dissects the rise of a “compatible left” that mouths Marxist theory while accommodating imperialism. He traces CIA funding of cultural elites, critiques Western Marxist blind spots, debates figures like Žižek and Chomsky, and explores ways to build independent, anti‑imperialist organizing and lasting socialist institutions.

Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock our full premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast MintPress News journalist Alan MacLeod returns to Bad Faith to talk us through the latest Epstein file revelations: New links between Epstein & Mossad, race science & Jewish supremacy, celebrity sightings, media influence, right-wing pedophile apologia, & more. Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).

Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock our full premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast Journalist from The Grayzone and author of Corporate Coup: Venezuela and the End of US Empire Anya Parampil returns to Bad Faith to discuss the latest developments in Venezuela following the kidnapping of Maduro -- a story that somehow emerged this month but is already out of the headlines. But first, we tackle an insane news week, including the ICE shooting death of Alex Pretti, the Democratic Party's feeble response and willingness to compromise ahead of this week's government funding deadline, settler attacks in the West Bank on Holocaust memorial day, Israelis starting fires in Patagonia, the physical attack on Ilhan Omar, TikTok becoming part of the Ellison empire, & more. Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).

Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock this episode and our entire premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast Gaza Humanitarian Foundation whistleblower and former Green Beret Anthony Aguilar returns to Bad Faith to announce his candidacy to represent North Carolina's 13th Congressional district, where he's running as a Green Party candidate. He answers questions about his military career and addresses concerns about fetishizing military service that were raised during a recent episode about Graham Platner, and he makes the case for why anti-imperialist voters should trust a candidate who has had a relatively late-in-life break from a career in the US military. Why was Gaza the breaking point, how does he plan to win the district that contains Fort Bragg as an anti-war candidate, and who is Anthony Aguilar -- the man? Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Produced by Armand Aviram. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands).