On this episode of SPS, we discuss Childish Gambino’s “This Is America;” “50 Years of 1968,” the opening plenary at the International Convention of the Platypus Affiliated Society in Chicago, April 2018; and the recent liberal hysteria over the Irish border, with Platypus members Cam Hardy (Toronto) and Rory Hannigan (Sheffield, UK).
Hosted by Audrey Crescenti, Pam C. Nogales C., Laurie Rojas.
Articles mentioned:
(1) "Up in the air: The legacy of the New Communist Movement, An interview with Max Elbaum" with Spencer A. Leonard, in the Platypus Review 30 (December 2010)
platypus1917.org/2010/12/01/up-in…munist-movement/
(2) "The Cynicism of Childish Gambino’s 'This Is America'" by Israel Daramola, in Spin (May 8, 2018)
www.spin.com/2018/05/donald-glo…is-america-review/
(3) "The ex-IRA men: ‘United Ireland? It’s all guff’" by Simon Carswell, in the Irish Times (Apr 8, 2017)
www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/ir…-guff-1.3041131
(4) Mike Mcnair on Ireland and Brexit, in "Across the board" for the Weekly Worker (April 24, 2018)
weeklyworker.co.uk/worker/1200/across-the-board/
Radical Minds co-hosts Erin Hagood and Stephanie Gomez interview Matt Cavagrotti and Greg Lucero on the historical and contemporary relationship between socialism and organized labor.
Greg Lucero is a member of Teamsters, Revolutionary Chicago, and the Socialist Party USA. Matt Cavagrotti is a member of Teamsters and the Platypus Affiliated Society.
Topics discussed include:
- Recent wave of American teachers' strikes
- AFSCME vs. Janus Supreme Court decision
- Upcoming contract negotiations between UPS and Teamsters
- Legacy of the New Communist Movement's failed "turn to industry" in the 1970s
- The nature and problems of revolutionary leadership
- Prospects for reviving unionism and socialism in the U.S.
Radical Minds is a radio show exploring the intersection between politics and economics in the modern world, broadcast on WHPK (88.5 FM Chicago). This episode aired May 24, 2018.
The article referenced by Greg is Radical Minds' interview with Mark Rudd, leader of Students for a Democratic Society and co-founder of the Weather Underground, published in issue 24 of the Platypus Review.
Held May 11, 2018 at the University of California Santa Cruz.
Panelists:
Evan Hetland - Platypus Affiliated Society
Mike Rotkin - former editor of Socialist Review, former mayor of Santa Cruz
Bruce Thompson - Professor of History at UCSC
Dave Andrews - Redneck Revolt
Jasmine - Redneck Revolt
Description:
Recent school shootings and the ever-recurring instances of police brutality pose acutely the question of gun control today. Should the Left take up the demand for gun control, and if so, how? If not, why not? How is gun control related to the struggle for socialism?
President's report delivered by Chris Cutrone on April 8, 2018 at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, as the closing plenary of the 2018 international convention of the Platypus Affiliated Society.
Chris' prepared remarks were published in the Platypus Review Issue #106.
