Episodes

This week Eric welcomes to show journalists Alex Kotch and Walker Bragman to discuss the latest developments from Trumpistan, the state of left journalism, and their new media project OptOut. The conversation begins with discussion of Trump’s threat to cancel the election, his Portland goon squads, and the shadowy American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) getting in on the culture war. They talk class war, Trump’s real base, and the myopia of Americans. The second half of the chow is focused ...

This week Eric welcomes to the show Laura Briggs, author of the new book “Taking Children: A History of American Terror.” Eric and Laura discuss Trump’s family separation policy and the long and shameful American tradition of breaking up families and stealing children. Briggs explains the economic and social function of such practices in context of slavery, dispossession of Native peoples, and US imperialism in Latin America. The conversation touches on many points including the bipartisan natur...

This week Eric sits down with commentator, journalist, and author, Grace Blakeley, to discuss her new book “Stolen: How to Save the World from Financialisation.” Eric and Grace explore the nature of the neoliberal period and what the process of financialization has done to the economic, political, and social life of the Global North. The conversation touches on everything from the nature of financialization as intertwined with imperialism to the role of electoral politics versus that of mass mob...

This week Eric sits down with journalist and author Lucy Schiller to discuss her recent investigation into the multi-billion dollar senior living industry in the COVID era, and the concept of loneliness in our world today. Music: Dean Wareham – “Wayfaring Stranger” The post Sumedha Pal – Episode 157 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

This week Eric sits down with journalist and author Lucy Schiller to discuss her recent investigation into the multi-billion dollar senior living industry in the COVID era, and the concept of loneliness in our world today. Music: Dean Wareham – “Wayfaring Stranger” The post Lucy Schiller – Episode 156 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

This time Eric chats with journalist, author, and chef Arun Gupta about his recent investigation into the COVID pandemic in rural agriculture and its impact on migrant workers. Eric and Arun also discuss the ongoing #BLM protests, real journalism and the danger of spreading unverified rumors in times of social struggle, and Arun’s new Instagram cooking series, “Apocalypse Chow” As always, Arun Gupta on CounterPunch Radio is a must-listen! Music: The Coup – Laugh/Love/F**ck The post Arun Gupta ...

As the US erupts in protest in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Eric chats with Kali Akuno, co-founder and co-director of Cooperation Jackson and organizer with People’s Strike. Kali gives his reactions to Trump’s quasi-martial law decree and some of the rhetoric he used in his disturbing “Law and Order” speech. Eric and Kali discuss the importance of Black and Brown youth leadership in this uprising, and how the level of political consciousness is much higher than previous uprisings. From the...

This week Eric welcomes back to the show professor of economics, radio host, and author Richard Wolff to discuss unemployment, systemic failures, and the future of capitalism in the Age of COVID. Eric and Richard discuss his recent piece “Mass Unemployment Is a Failure of Capitalism” and why unemployment, and all the hardships it causes, is a choice made by capitalists. From there they explore the 2000, 2008, and 2020 crashes as a feature, not a bug, capitalism, and why a redistribution of labor...

This time Eric welcomes progressive Democratic candidate for the US House of Representatives from California’s 12th district, Shahid Buttar, who is challenging Nancy Pelosi in November’s general election. Eric and Shahid discuss his background and formative political experiences, his time in Washington and as an activist, and his reasons for running. From there, the conversation explores the Pelosi era in SF politics: gentrification, segregation, Pelosification. What are the power blocs in Bay A...

While we’re all stuck at home, there’s a world of films waiting to be seen. This week, we discuss ten films that every lefty must watch. Joining Eric is CounterPunch’s resident film critic Louis Proyect, and PhD student and author Shalon van Tine. Films discussed include: Sansho the Bailiff (Mizoguchi, 1954) Strike (Eisenstein, 1925) Battleship Potemkin (Eisenstein, 1925) Salt of the Earth (Biberman, 1954) Crimson Gold (Panahi/Kiarostami, 2003) La Chinoise (Godard, 1967) Ceddo (Sembene, 1...

This time Eric welcomes to the show activist, unionist, and leading candidate for the Green Party nomination for President in 2020, Howie Hawkins. Eric and Howie discuss the importance of a left political alternative to the Democratic Party, and why arguments against it are disingenuous. Howie describes his background as a trade unionist, co-founder of the Green Party, and activist, and explains how that informs his politics today. Eric and Howie explore electoralism vs activism, the role of the...

This time Eric welcomes back to the show CounterPunch contributor Paul Street to discuss capitalism and the pandemic, the Orange Antichrist, Bernie’s flame-out, and the shocking collapse of Truthdig. First, Eric and Paul go in depth on how the pandemic is a direct result of capitalist development and ecocide, and the fact that Trump’s base is only interested in white nationalism and authoritarianism. The second half of the show is a post-mortem of the Bernie Sanders campaign as Eric and Paul dis...

This time Eric welcomes back to the show Marxist economist and author Michael Roberts to discuss the prospects for the global economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Eric and Michael begin by discussing whether the virus was an exogenous calamity or merely the tipping point for much deeper structural problems with global production and profitability. From there, Michael explains why Keynesians are wrong in describing “demand crises” when really it’s supply crises that drive economic downturns, and w...

This week Eric welcomes to the show activist and author Eric Blanc whose book Red State Revolt (Verso, 2019) documented the teachers strike wave across the country in 2018-2019. The conversation begins with a discussion of the nature of the strikes, the political context in which they happened, and the juxtaposition of labor activism in red versus blue states. From there, Eric explains how standardized testing, charter schools, and privatization broadly has decimated the teaching profession in r...

This week Eric welcomes to the show activist and author Eric Blanc whose book Red State Revolt (Verso, 2019) documented the teachers strike wave across the country in 2018-2019. The conversation begins with a discussion of the nature of the strikes, the political context in which they happened, and the juxtaposition of labor activism in red versus blue states. From there, Eric explains how standardized testing, charter schools, and privatization broadly has decimated the teaching profession in r...

This week Eric welcomes to the show Iraq war veteran, antiwar activist, and filmmaker Mike Prysner to help us understand what’s going on in the minds of soldiers with the US on the brink of another war. Mike tells us about his journey from enlisting to finding himself on the ground in Iraq to coming home and organizing against the war and US imperialism. Eric and Mike discuss the reasons young people join, the myth versus reality, and the coercive nature of military recruitment. Mike also remind...

This week Eric welcomes to the show Iraq war veteran, antiwar activist, and filmmaker Mike Prysner to help us understand what’s going on in the minds of soldiers with the US on the brink of another war. Mike tells us about his journey from enlisting to finding himself on the ground in Iraq to coming home and organizing against the war and US imperialism. Eric and Mike discuss the reasons young people join, the myth versus reality, and the coercive nature of military recruitment. Mike also remind...

This week Eric welcomes to the show Marxist economist and blogger Michael Roberts to discuss the latest global economic issues. The conversation begins with the interesting moves by the US Federal Reserve in late September and what they might mean for the US domestic, and ultimately global, economic outlook. From there the conversation shifts to macroeconomic trends and how Trump’s trade war with China might impact the depressed global situation, including laying the groundwork for a technology ...

This week Eric welcomes to the show Marxist economist and blogger Michael Roberts to discuss the latest global economic issues. The conversation begins with the interesting moves by the US Federal Reserve in late September and what they might mean for the US domestic, and ultimately global, economic outlook. From there the conversation shifts to macroeconomic trends and how Trump’s trade war with China might impact the depressed global situation, including laying the groundwork for a technology ...

This week Eric welcomes to the show investigative journalist and editor of Sludge, Alex Kotch, to talk Trump, Ukraine, campaign finance violations, and much more. Naturally, the conversation begins with a discussion of the latest in Trumplandia, including the opening of the impeachment inquiry and what that might mean for Trump and the Democrats. From there, Alex discusses his latest investigation into Facebook’s profiting from far-right propaganda, including the broader implications of social m...

This week Eric welcomes political analyst Dan Glazebrook back to the show to discuss the latest in the wild world of British politics. Eric and Dan begin with an overview of the developments of recent months and the political context within which they’ve taken place. With Brexit looming over everything, Boris Johnson is now PM and all hell has broken loose. Dan explains why he thinks Steve Bannon is an important key to understanding Johnson’s political calculation, and why Corbyn and Labour rema...

This week Eric welcomes political analyst Dan Glazebrook back to the show to discuss the latest in the wild world of British politics. Eric and Dan begin with an overview of the developments of recent months and the political context within which they’ve taken place. With Brexit looming over everything, Boris Johnson is now PM and all hell has broken loose. Dan explains why he thinks Steve Bannon is an important key to understanding Johnson’s political calculation, and why Corbyn and Labour rema...

This week Eric welcomes to the show New Delhi-based journalist Sumedha Pal to discuss the situation in Kashmir and the political context within which it should be understood. The conversation begins with important background on the conflict: the history, stakeholders, and domestic politics. Sumedha explains the rise of PM Narendra Modi, the forces backing him, and why he and the far right Hindu nationalists have made this move on Kashmir now. From there, the conversation explores everything from...

This week Eric welcomes to the show singer, songwriter, and composer Dean Wareham to talk music, politics, and CounterPunch. Dean tells us about his rock and roll journey, including his bands Galaxie 500 and Luna, and what he learned about contacts, money, and “The Industry.” Eric asks Dean about the state of music today, how it changed with mp3s and streaming, and whether things are better or worse than “the good old days.” Dean explains how he first found CounterPunch and why music with a poli...