The Beltway Garage's chief mechanic Virgil Texas takes us for a wonk on the wild side! We focus on the Democrats' electoral strategy of writing open letters demanding socialists vote for Biden, carefully weigh their arguments, and come up with our own endorsement by the end of the episode.

The letters:

Former leaders of SDS: https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/letter-new-left-biden/

DSA North Star: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/defeat-trump-open-letter/

Mitch Abidor: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/13/opinion/socialists-support-biden-election.html

Closing song - Nat King Cole - Bidin' My Time

Support the show at http://patreon.com/theantifada for bonus episodes, Discord access, and a lettepress thank you postcard (unitl we reach our summer goal of 1,917 subscribers.

We continue to check the decomposition of the spines of our favorite texts of Marx and Marxism with this short and practical discussion on value criticism and Moishe Postone's Time Labor and Social Domination

For the full episode, and all other bonus material, access to our discord community, and a signed, union-made letterpress postcard, become a patron today at Patreon.com/theantifada

Previous episodes posted on our Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/theantifada

Jake "Silly Socrates" Flores is back on the show to talk about his new podcast Why You Mad? and theories of comedy and class war.

But before that, we talk about something that's no laughing matter: the NYPD's permissive culture towards rapists and other abusers on the force, unfortunately celebrated by humorous challenge coins and nicknames like the "assman". Writer for the Appeal and the Intercept Tana Ganeva joins us to discuss the failures of Cuomo and di Bunglio's even tepid reforms, speculate why it's been such a shell game, and if "defund" or "abolish" police and prisons are the right approach.

Shownotes:

https://theintercept.com/2020/07/06/nypd-culture-of-impunity/

https://theintercept.com/2020/05/07/coronavirus-america-rural-prisons/

https://theintercept.com/2020/02/03/michigan-legal-marijuana-criminal-justice-reform-michael-thompson-clemency/

https://www.patreon.com/whyyoumad

NYPD Challenge Coins https://researchdestroy.com/nypd-challenge-coins.pdf

Help get us to our goal of 1,917 subscribers and get access to all our bonus episodes, discord community, and a signed, letterpress union-made postcard at https://www.patreon.com/theantifada

Closing song: G-Flux - Ceviche

We talk about the pro-democracy struggle in Hong Kong with Nation and Lausan writer Wilfred Chan. From its history of struggling against British colonialism to its rejection of being China's neoliberal "window to the world," the movement provides many contemporary lessons on the potentitals and contradictions of mass organizing.

But while reactionary elements of the movement are central, it is no use for the left to simply turn its back. Chan's work stakes out its leftwing, translating its most revolutionary aspects for an international audience, and deepening correspondences with other struggles around the world. We move from the particularities of HK to the global economic roots of the struggle, and how its most innovative tactics (like umbrella-shield frontliners and laser-wielding "light mages") have spread to Chile, France, and now the Pacific Northwest. Finally, we discuss the painfully hypocritical deepening tensions between the US and China, and the prospects of World War III.

A couple recent articles by Chan:

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/hong-kong-china-national-security-law/

dissentmagazine.org/article/why-hong-kongers-fight

For bonus episodes like History is a Weapon, Proletkult, Vampire Castle, and access to our discord community, become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/theantifada

Closing Music: Les Miserables - Do You Hear the People Sing? (2012 film soundtrack)

Politigram ethnographer Joshua Citarella shares his observations about the online post-left, particularly its zoomer base radicalized in 2016 meme wars. We discuss how important were memes to Trumps' victory, their political journey since then, and how the left can de/re-radicalize those committed to the violent right. Finally, we discuss the phenomenon of memes becoming reality, especially in the context of Unite the Right in Charlottesville and the CHAZ/CHOP in Seattle.

For the full episode, along with all our Patron-only bonuses like History is a Weapon and Vampire Castle, and access to our own meme stash, subscribe at http://patreon.com/theantifada

Show notes:

Joshua Citarella on Instagram

Joshua Citarella on Patreon

Politigram and the Post-Left

Read the Moon Book

Theme music: Georgio Moroder - Racer

Nate Postcyborg (@postcyborg), of #linegoesdown and TANC (Tenant and Neighborhood Councils), stops by to talk about the ongoing housing crisis and how it's being accelerated by Covid, and what tenants can do to fight back. Then the crew discuss the shadowy feds invading Portland, dropping fertility rates, the Mary Trump interview, and that fucking letter.

Rest in power, Michael Brooks (1983-2020)

Outro music: Cock Sparrer - Secret Army

For bonus episodes like History is a Weapon, Proletkult, Vampire Castle, and access to our discord community, become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/theantifada

Part 2/2 of the latest History is a Weapon concluding the discussion of parapolitics, paranoia and what lessons we should take from it (NOT EVERYTHING/EVERYONE IS AN OP.)

For the full episode, become a patron today at www.patreon.com/theantifada

On this new installment of HIAW, Matt and Sean are joined by para-political expert Andy to talk about the political economy of intelligence and counterintelligence: How is this formation unique to capitalism and the bourgeois state? What is the connection between the deep state and anti-communism? What roles do the mafia and drug-running play? How powerful and pervasive is this apparatus? And what the hell do we do with all this paranoia-inducting info when we have it??

This first half is free for all. The second will be released later in the week for patrons only. Consider becoming at patron today at www.patreon.com/theantifada

Theme: Eddy Huntington - USSR [VAPORWAVE remix by Dank Red]

Episode art curation: @insert_name27

Brandon Sutton (@prettybadlefty), host of The Discourse podcast (@Th3Discourse), returns to discuss the important matters of the day, like Yeezy 2020 and Cats vs Hamilton. We also discuss the rebellion for black lives, radicalizing the libs, and why the DSA should have more game nights.

Outro music: Kanye West - Black Skinhead