Talking Strategy, Making History: Recent Episodes
Daraka Larimore-Hall, Dick Flacks
Each episode will focus on a different aspect or example of the general theme. Our kick-off frame is the awkward position that progressives find themselves in. It seems obvious, at least to a significant portion of Leftists, that “working within the Democratic Party” has to be part of any realistic strategy for making substantive, social democratic or radical change in the United States. What is far less clear is what this means practically, in terms of organization and elections. For many years, the slogan of the Left has been to work both “inside and outside” the Democratic Party. But what does that “inside” part actually look like?
The podcast project comes from our experience as progressive activists--and from the urgency of now. Dick Flacks taught sociology at UC Santa Barbara and Umiversity of Chicago for 60 years. He's of the founding generation of Students for a Democratic Society and helped write the Port Huron Statement (along with Tom Hayden and the big Lebowski). He and his late wife Mickey recntly published a memoir of their lives--political and personal. It's called MAKING HISTORY/MAKING BLINTZES: HOW TWO RED DIAPER BABIES FOUND EACH OTHER AND DISCOVERED AMERICA. He's written a lot about the American Left--most notably MAKING HISTORY: THE AMERICAN LEFT AND THE AMERICAN MIND. His weekly radio show called'The Culture of Protest' can be heard 6 pm Thursdays on www.kcsb.org.
Daraka Larimore-Hall is vice-chair of the Democratic Party of California and a political and organizational consultant working primarily for social democratic parties and trade unions abroad. A lifelong political activist, Daraka first met Dick when he was in Jr High School, and first getting involved in local progressive politics in Santa Barbara. Since then, Daraka has been a national leader and staffer for DSA, a board member of the International Union of Socialist Youth, an activist and elected officer of United Auto Workers Local 2865, as well as active in the Democratic Party at all levels. He received his PhD, supervised by Dr. Flacks, in 2013.
Per Hoel is the producer/director of our effort. Per helped found the DSA chapter in Santa Barbara in the aftermath of the Sanders campaign in 2016. He's a professional videographer and multimedia designer and works in instructional design.
Historian Maurice Isserman’s new book: Reds: The Tragedy of American Communism helps us think about how the organized left ought to be organized. We talk about the past’s relevance to the present; Maurice, like us, is an activist, vitally concerned with building a Left that’s democratic and effective. The episode ends with the voice of Swedish singer-songwriter Molly Nilssen. It’s a track on her just released CD, Unamerican Activiities. The track is called “American Communist Party”
Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
info@nextdaypodcast.com
Phyllis Bennis is a unique left journalist, having dedicated her life's work to reporting from the UN and helping the antiwar movements understand international law and diplomacy. She's a long time activist for Palestinian justice, a fellow at the Institute for Policy 'studies, and international advisor for Jewish 'voice for Peace. And an alumna of UC Santa Barbara.
Muisc: David Rovics "This is Genocide"
Daraka & Dick engage with Vladidas Khaykin, anti-semitism specialist with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), abd Matthew Finkelstein, co-founder, Progressive Zionists of California. They spell out their experience of leftwing anti-semitism and we all try to define a common ground for a just peace.
closing music: David Broza "Yiyeh Tov (It will be better)"
Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
info@nextdaypodcast.com
35 Talking with Sherene Seikaly, Palestine Scholar
Daraka and Dick converse with one of the leading Palestinian intellectuals in academia. It was an enlightening and heart-wrenching encounter for us--and perhaps you'll feel that as well.
Music: Jerusalem Youth Choir: 'A Different Way"
A conversation with Rosie, a media spokesperson for the Palestinian solidarity encampment at UC Santa Barbara. We talk about why and how she's engaged, the impact of the protest on campus, how participants respond to concerns about anti-semitism, and how she defines the movement's goals. We learned a lot.
Music: Phil Ochs: "I;m gonna say itn now" Declan Griffin is our producer.
Daraka and Dick use the current Columbia student protests as a springboard for examining the way efforts to control the student movement are threatening the framework of campus democracy and free expression--and how and why 'anti-semitism' labelling is being weaponized. Are there ways out of this mess?
closing song: 'it Isn't Nice" by Malvina Reynolds, sung by Barbara Dane & the Chambers Brothers
Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
info@nextdaypodcast.com
A conversation with Murad "Moe" Samara, Palestinian American Democratic Party leader, Moe is an envirnmental scientist, ather of five, and a signifiant voice in Sacramento politics. He describes the gap between the Biden adminIstration and Arab American and youth Democratic Party activists, expressing hope for a war ending poicy, and fear if there isn't.
Closing music: David Rovics "if a Song Could Raise an Army
Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast
He’s one of the key voices of Israel’s electoral left. He defends Israel’s need to end Hamas control of Gaza, while bitterly attacking Netanyahu and his rightwing regime. The conversation illumuinates the grim political frustrations of the situation—while providing rays of hope for change.
Music: “Mashup for Change” Jerusalem Youth Chorus
Jewish Currents is the magazine of the Jewish Left in the US. Arielle Angel is the remarkably thoughtful and engaged editor-in-chief. We talk about Israel's war on Gaza, the possibilities for the future, anti-semitism and its weaponization--and what is to be done.
Music credit: 'Sholom, Salaam" sung by Ziggy Marley and the Jerusalem Youth Choir
This episode introduces a new season focused on the War On Gaza and its ramifications. Daraka and Dick talk about their perspectives on the situation and how their personal life stories shape where they stand--and we preview forthcoming episodes on these matters. The first of these episodes--a conversation with Arielle Angel, editor of Jewish Currents--is ready for you now.
Music credit: Everyone Neath Their Vine and Figtree sung by Alexa Sunshine-Rose
Episode #28: In which we wrap season 2: 'Socialism and its discontents", and suggest its top takeaways. We also talk about what we hope to do in Season 3: How to re-form capitalist society? The episode closes with a surprise song.
Episode #27: In which we talk with legendary labor intellectual Bill Fletcher Jr about writing political mysteries and his hopes and worries about the labor movement right now.
Music credit: Ben Harper: 'We Need to Talk About It" Bloodline Maintenance20221
"In which Daraka, in Sweden, asks Swedish social democratic party activists to explain why the and how the Nordic model of social democracy has eroded--and what remains strong."
song credit: “Arbetets Söner" Swedish workers' song
Lyrics: Henrik Menander Composed by: Nils Peter Möller
In which Daraka and Dick talk with Kristian Hernandez and David Duhalde, veteran leaders of DSA, about the past, present and future of the leading democratic socialist organization in the Us.
Credit: 'We Will Sing One Song" by Joe Hill
Bocal :Buddy Halker, from Album: ANYWHERE BUT UTAH: SONGS OF JOE HILL
"In which Daraka and Dick deconstruct the recent congressional resolution denouncing socialism and why so many Democrats voted for it"
Music credit: 'Socialist!' by Roy Zimmerman
In which Daraka teaches an insightful, in-depth minicourse on the current troubles of the Swedish social Democratic Party and the European left generally.
Music credit: Ebba Grön - "Staten och kapitalet"
In which DARAKA and Dick explore and debate ways to oppose authoritarian leftisms, and the history of Leninism. Communism, anti-communism and anti-anti communism
Music credit: Pete Seeger - "Die Gedanken Sind Frei"
In which one of our foremost liberal journalists, Bob Kuttner, explains to Daraka and Dick why he’s taken a turn toward socialism
Music credit: Pete Seeger - "Banks of Marble" (song by Les Rice)
In which Daraka and Dick ask 'What is America to us'? Is there a progressive patriotism?
Music credit: John McCutheon - "Our Flag Was Still There" and Paul Robeson - "The House I Live In"
In which Daraka and Dick do a deep and stimulating dive into the eternal question: WTF is socialism anyway?
Music credit: Roy Zimmerman - "Socialist!"
In which Daraka & Dick explore how politically class & race have at times come together to shape progressive organizing and programs.
Music credit: Josh White - "Bad Housing Blues"
In which Daraka and Dick definitively explain socialism's history and fate in the USA.
Music credit: Monsieur Jack - "Commonwealth of Toil"
In which Daraka and Dick offer definitions and give historical context for 'socialism', 'capitalism', 'liberalism', providing a foundation for season 2 which we call 'Socialism and its Discontents'.
Music credit: Leyla McCalla - "The Capitalist Blues"
In which Daraka and Dick highlight some of the main takeaways from
season one focusing on the vision of making the Democratic Party a people’s party.
Part two of a two-part conversation.
Music credit: Patti Smith - "People Have the Power"
In which Daraka and Dick highlight some of the main takeaways from
season one focusing on the vision of making the Democratic Party a people’s party.
Part one of a two-part conversation.
Music credit: Patti Smith - "People Have the Power"
We continue our conversation with Skocpol on lessons for social change and the case for "intertwining" inside and outside party organizing to reach political goals that have proved elusive.
Music Credit: Leslie Odom Jr. - "A Change is Gonna Come"
In which the eminent social scientist helps us dive deeply into the rise of grassroots civic engagement on the right and the left and how this contributes to social transformation.
Music Credit: Leslie Odom Jr. - "A Change is Gonna Come"
In which we talk further with Jonathan Smucker about how the Democratic party can connect with the needs of working class people.
Music Credit: Ryan Harvey - "Light in the Morning (feat. RAAST, Shireen & bell's roar)
In which we speak with Jonathan Smucker, author of Hegemony How-to: A Roadmap for Radicals, on what we can learn from organizing victories in rural Pennsylvania.
Music Credit: Ryan Harvey - "Light in the Morning (feat. RAAST, Shireen & bell's roar)
Senator Monique Limon on why progressives struggle in office In which we discuss the promise, limits, and pragmatics of electing left and progressive representation. Music Credit: Keb Mo - "Put a Woman in Charge"
In which we talk with Jane Kleeb chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party about the nitty gritty of making the party able to connect to rural America and some of the ways party transformation is happening. It turned out to be an exciting conversation with a rising progressive leader.
Music Credit: Neil Young - "Who's Gonna Stand Up (orchestral version)"
In which we talk about the change in the Party we think leftists and progressives have to work on. Music Credit: Tracy Chapman - "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" / Martin Lowak - "Chill Boy"
In which we hear Bob Kuttner, editor of American Prospect, offering a detailed scorecard on the emerging Biden cabinet, and the potential for executive action and legislation that can offer hope — and that can focus grassroots activism.
In which David Duhalde, former political director of Our Revolution and deputy director of DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), traces DSA’s varying efforts to define its relationship to the Democratic Party.
In which we challenge some of the ways leftists look at the Democratic Party and fantasize alternatives.
Music credit: John Lennon - "Working Class Hero"
Heather Booth is a legendary progressive organizer with a half century of often astonishing achievement—a pioneer in the starting of feminist activism, key organizer in Illinois for the candidacies of insurgent African American candidates Harold Washington and Carol Mosely Braun, founder of the Midwest Academy which has trained thousands of organizers, in charge of national mobilizations for universal healthcare and financial reform to name a few of her efforts. We talked with Heather a few days after she became director of Progressive and Senior outreach for the Biden campaign. It was inspiring.
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In which we take something of a deep dive into the fluid morass of the DP, to encourage efforts to map the party in order to formulate strategies to remake it. And we start to identify potential targets for change in dialog with Mattias Lehman, one of the leaders of the Sunrise Movement.
In which we talk about how we each came to see the need for progressive activism within the Democratic Party and sketch key moments in the struggle for its soul. Each episode starts with voices coming from that history: Fannie Lou Hamer in 1964; Ted Kennedy in 1980; Bernie Sanders in 2016; AOC now.