Alex Hochuli is a co-host at the Aufhebunga Bunga podcast, a writer for magazines such as Damage and Jacobin, and a co-author of the upcoming Zero Books book "The End of the End of History." From the book jacket: The End of the End of History examines how the political consequences of the 2008 financial crisis have come home to roost. If Trump and Brexit shattered the liberal-democratic consensus in 2016, then the global pandemic of 2020 put a final end to the “End of History”. Politics is back, but it’s stranger than ever.

This Pop the Left podcast features Derick Varn, and Douglas Lain as they continue their conversation about the writings of Christopher Lasch and specifically examine his essay "Is Revolution Obsolete?" from his book A World of Nations. The ideas of Harold Cruse will also be examined as we try to wrangle out just what contemporary socialists can gain from understanding the legacy of Lasch.

Camilo Gómez is the man behind the History and Politics podcast. Living in Peru, he agreed to talk to Douglas Lain in order to give Zero Books readers and listeners information about the recent coup there, and in order to explain the scope and meaning of the mass protests that have swept through the country.

Rick Kuhn is a Marxian economist, political analyst and reader at the Australian National University in Canberra. He is a translator and editor of the works of Henryk Grossman and a radical in his own right. In this Zero Books interview, he discusses the pessimism of David Harvey and the possibilities for revolutionary socialism.

Stephen Janicki is an inventor living in Indiana and a Trump supporter. His most recent invention is called the Driigunproject project. The Facebook page for the Driigunproject describes this invention as a "revolution in art, gaming and education." He holds an Associates's degree in marketing with a minor in philosophy. In this video, Douglas Lain and Stephen Janicki discuss the election results, the possibility of voter fraud, the evidence of corruption around Biden and Trump, and whether we can trust our political institutions to render judgment.

Derick Varn and Douglas Lain preempt the scheduled interview with Rick Kuhn in order to offer choice hot takes on the US Presidential election as the votes are slowly counted. Questions raised will include, why is Trump so successful in the current climate, how are elite media institutions failing, and what will life under Biden be like for the left.

If you enjoy the conversation join us in the Parrot room as we take the gloves off and dish dirt on the contemporary scene. Possible topics for Patrons will include the wit and wisdom of Nathan J. Robinson, why Zero Books can get on Sky News, and the pitfalls of pursuing politics in an apolitical age.
https://patreon.com/zerobooks

Derick Varn and Douglas Lain discuss Christopher Lasch's 1969 book "The Agony of the Left." As we prepare for the possibility that the faux "populism" and attendant resistance that defined the Trump years are both on the verge of being relegated to the dustbin of history, we aim to take a step back and consider the left.

To listen to the Parrot Room conversation join us on Patreon.
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Nina Power is a cultural critic, social theorist, philosopher and translator. She is the author of One-Dimensional Woman, a book that was published by Zero Books in 2009. Her Twitter bio claims she is uncancellable which is an indication that a few people have made an effort in that direction. In this Livestream for Zero Books, we'll be discussing her philosophical and political observations on the subject of depression, whether paganism can ever be countenanced, and what it means when men are sad.

Nina's appearance in the Parrot Room is available for Patrons.
https://www.patreon.com/zerobooks

October 18th, 2020

In this episode of Pop the Left Derick Varn and Douglas Lain consider whether a new Marxist party would need to include a clear plan for transforming the means of production along with a plan to obtain state power.

Recommended reading on Marx and Utopia:
Marx's Critique of the Utopian Socialists by ROGER PADEN https://www.jstor.org/stable/20718467?seq=1

The Development of Utopian Socialism by Frederick Engels https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch01.htm

William Briggs, author of "Removing the Stalin Stain" returns to the channel to discuss Marx's vision of socialism, what Trotsky contributed to the socialist struggle, and the condition of socialist movements today.

To get access to the Zero Books Parrot room support us on Patreon:
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