What role does a regulator like the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) actually play? In this episode we examine the FDA, it's capture and control by the pharmaceutical industry and how this fits into US state-monopoly capitalism.
Be sure to read the full article we are discussing
Episode image is taken from the Lindsay Anderson film...
2021-09-05 19:03:12 +0000 UTC View PostIn this episode Alex & Leila address accusations made on tweetsphere, were they wrong on the vaccine passport? Is the thing that dwells in the Edinburgh lego set a government? Is Nicola Sturgeon even real or a fictional character? What the hell is the ruling class up to? All these questions and more will be addressed in this episode!
2021-09-03 15:52:20 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode of our series on the miners strike of 1984-85 we cover the actions taken to break working class solidarity taken by the Wilson and Callaghan ministries. The IMF bailout crisis of 1976, the Ridley Plan, the rise of Thatcher and the flaws of the shop stewards movement. The final part will be released next week.
Sources Used for this episode:
Alan Thornett - From Militancy to Marxism
David J Douglas - Ghostdancers
G.W.F Hegel - Logic&n...
Elena Lange returns to review self-proclaimed "globalist" Benjamin Bratton's newest book "The Revenge of the Real: Politics for a Post-Pandemic World".
Articles mentioned during the show:
"Basic fucking common sense" by Elena Lange
"Revenge of the Unreal" by Nicolas Hausdorf 2021-08-26 23:34:39 +0000 UTC View Post
Thomas Paine was one of the most forward-looking founding fathers of the United States of America. We are going to use his famous pamphelt, the Rights of Man, to compare and contrast the American and French revolutions, and discuss the most progressive aspect of the revolutionary bourgeoisie and capitalism - liberal rights.
September 29th, we'll be releasing our episode discussing the book.
Full text here: 2021-08-26 22:28:55 +0000 UTC View Post
In this three-part episode, we look at one of the most significant work stoppages of the modern era: the UK Miners' strike of 1984-1985. In this second episode, we speak about the first wave of major miners' strikes in the post-war era, starting with the stunning and heroic industrial actions of 1972 to 1974. Arthur Scargill, the Yorkshire Miners and the famous Battle of Saltley Gate come onto the scene.
2021-08-24 19:08:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Following the US pullout and the Taliban taking control of the entirety of Afghanistan we examine the reasons for this latest imperial debacle.
We look at the history, the role of British imperialism, the Saur Revolution, Operation Cyclone, 9/11 and the 20 years of US failure.
2021-08-20 17:54:26 +0000 UTC View Post
In this three-part episode, we look at one of the most significant work stoppages of the modern era: the UK Miners' strike of 1984-1985. In this first episode, we survey the political economy leading up to these stunning events and what the Miners' strike teaches us on the state of declining imperialist powers.
2021-08-18 13:36:10 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode we examine the claim made by the American academic Chris Cutrone that Lenin was in fact pursuing a liberal project in carrying out the October Revolution. We look into this claim, the influence that the work of Theodor Adorno has on Cutrone's work and the influence of the Frankfurt School more generally.
Articles Referenced
2021-08-11 16:21:41 +0000 UTC View PostWe'll be examining Lenin's seminal work "Left Wing Communism - An Infantile Disorder" for the the August reading group. For September we are going to look at one of the classics of bourgeois thought. As always the choice will be up to patrons so vote for your most favoured work below!
2021-08-10 12:23:32 +0000 UTC View Post
Early access for Patrons!
In part 2, we focus on the political and ethical dimensions of the covid-19 vaccination campaign.
2021-08-09 23:16:17 +0000 UTC View Post
In this part, we focus mostly on the history and evidence behind the mRNA covid-19 vaccines. In part 2, we will delve more into the political and ethical issues surrounding this massive vaccination effort.
See our last show on covid-19.
Part 1: https://anchor.fm/red-star-radio/episodes/Its-Just-a-Bad-Flu-Part-1-of-2-evvqdr
Part 2 (Patrons): 2021-08-06 03:22:11 +0000 UTC View Post
We go on to answer questions about whether clients of sex workers should be criminalized, what relevance do gender and LGBT+ ideology have to Marxist theory, Scottish independence, the Canadian Indigenous question, and whether Ireland will ever see a workers' uprising.
Part 1: https://www.patreon.com/posts/54194652
2021-08-02 16:44:38 +0000 UTC View Post
We talk through the politics and history surrounding Oliver Stone's 1995 movie Nixon.
2021-07-30 13:38:05 +0000 UTC View Post
It's the first "ask us anything" episode! We asked for questions and you, good listeners, delivered! So much so in fact that this will be a two part episode with the second out next Tuesday. So enjoy this first part where we answer your questions on the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, Stalin and the decline of the British and Canadian Communist Parties. Enjoy!
2021-07-27 23:40:43 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi everyone,
Originally we thought about making this a new tier, but we honestly don't have time! So instead, we will be watching and reviewing Nixon (1995) for the next Patron episode next Tuesday (July 27th)
We are watching the Directors' cut, if you want to watch along with us.
2021-07-23 15:08:03 +0000 UTC View Post
The riots that broke out in South Africa brought back into the focus the nature of the post apartheid era. In this episode we look at the nature of the deal that ended apartheid, the strength and sacrifices of the South African working class and the political trajectory of the ANC. We also draw on Lenin's analysis of "spontaneity" and Trotsky's concept of "permanent revolution" to shed light on the class struggle within South Africa.
For further information on the sit...
2021-07-23 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostWe still cannot figure out how to do a stream, so we decided to do an AMA instead! Please use this thread to ask us anything!
Thanks!
2021-07-22 20:55:16 +0000 UTC View Post
We look at the claim that prostitution is wage labour like any other, and decide whether or not the claim stands up to Marxist scrutiny.
Articles mentioned:
Prostitution and ways of fighting it (Kollontai)
Lenin on the Women’s Question (Zetkin) 2021-07-20 23:49:01 +0000 UTC View Post
You voted for Lenin's Left-Wing Communism, an Infantile Disorder. And you're going to get it!
The full text is available here: https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1920/lwc/
We'll be releasing the episode on August 30th, covering the following chapters:
You voted for Lenin's Left-Wing Communism, an Infantile Disorder. And you're going to get it!
The full text is available here: https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1920/lwc/
We'll be releasing the episode on August 15th, covering the following chapters:
Do the ends justify the means? Is human freedom a project worth doing *anything* to achieve? Are Marxists amoral? Do the petit bourgeois moralists finally win the upper hand over the Marxists?
We investigate these questions through Trotsky's famous 1938 essay "Their Morals and Ours"
The essay: https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1938/morals/morals.htm
Keith Wood...
2021-07-14 00:52:41 +0000 UTC View Post
It's the weekend edition and that means it's a show where you get 3 for the price of one! Rumsfeld! Hancock! Corbyn! All in one show where our hosts go on a free ranging discusison taking in Rumsfelds demise following his alliance with the DSA and breadtube, the resignation of Matt Hancock and the failings of the tactics pursued by Alex in the Labour Party.
2021-07-09 18:21:40 +0000 UTC View PostWe'll be putting out our reading group episode on Chapter One of Capital on the commodity. You can find the chapter on the Marxist Internet Archive and if you have questions be sure to leave them on here or send us a message! 
In this episode Leila & Alex examine the questions of birth rates under capitalism? Why is the capitalist class flipping between paranoia over low birth rates and bitter malthusianism? Would things better under communism and if so how? Our apologies for the audio quality varying on this episode on Alex's end this is due to microphone issues.
2021-07-06 14:38:42 +0000 UTC View PostWe look at the history of the Cuban revolution through Che Guevera's essay " Socialism and man in Cuba", wherein Che theorizes how to create the new man and woman as communism is built in Cuba. Our discussion touches on the role of love and leadership in communist revolution and governance.
The essay: https://www.marxists.org/archive/guevara/1965/03/man-socialism.htm
2021-06-29 17:34:25 +0000 UTC View Post
In part 2 of a 2 part episode, we review Greg Albo's article "The Old and New Economics of Imperialism" to assess the strength of Poulantza's versus Lenin's theory of imperialism. We talk about signs of American decay and China's rise as the next leading imperialist power.
Albo's article here [this is a link to the PDF]: https://socialistregister.com/index.php/srv/article/do...
2021-06-21 17:50:57 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey everyone! We've reached over 100 Patrons, thanks to everyone for their support. We're doing an 'ask us anything' twitch livestream to celebrate. Join us Tuesday, June 22nd at 5pm EST / 10pm GMT.
Ask your questions live or post them here!
2021-06-19 14:36:10 +0000 UTC View Post
In part 1 of a 2 part episode, we review the major theories of imperialism as derived by intellectuals including Hobson, Hilferding, Luxemburg, Bukharin, Lenin, Kautsky, Poulantzas and more. This episode is heavy on the theory, but we hope we've included enough humour and interesting historical tidbits to make it go down easier.
2021-06-18 16:55:47 +0000 UTC View Post
In the second part of our discussion, we focus on the notion of the "traditional family" and how it is often used as a cover for reactionary utopianism. We also discuss the sexual revolution and how true romance can only be possible through communism.
Works Referenced
Alexandra Kollontai - Red Love
2021-06-15 13:52:36 +0000 UTC View Post