What happens when a Protestant Christian delves into the philosophy of Russia's most controversial thinker? Jay Rogers, a heart transplant survivor and longtime student of Russian culture, takes us on a fascinating journey through his engagement with Alexander Dugan's Fourth Political Theory.

Having traveled extensively throughout Russia and Ukraine during the pivotal post-Soviet years, Rogers brings unique firsthand experience to this conversation. He explains how his observations of Christianity's revival among the Russian intelligentsia and his disillusionment with mainstream Western media narratives led him to explore alternative political perspectives.

Rogers artfully unpacks the connections between Dugan, Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations," and Alexander Solzhenitsyn's prophetic warnings about Western liberalism. He argues that these thinkers anticipated our current global shift from nation-states to civilization-states—a transformation reshaping international relations before our eyes.

At the heart of this discussion lies a profound critique of liberalism's impact on Christianity. Rogers suggests that the liberal emphasis on individual autonomy fundamentally contradicts the community-centered teachings of scripture. This realization helped him understand why traditional values are making a comeback across political lines, creating unexpected alliances between previously opposed groups.

Perhaps most compelling is Rogers' nuanced view of cultural diversity. Drawing from his experiences as a teacher in Florida, he rejects both xenophobia and liberal multiculturalism, instead advocating for a world where distinct civilizations can coexist and learn from each other while maintaining their unique identities.

Whether you're politically conservative, progressive, or somewhere in between, this conversation challenges conventional categories and offers fresh perspectives on our rapidly changing world. Discover why engaging with challenging thinkers like Dugan might be essential for anyone seeking to understand—and shape—our collective future.

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Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
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What defines Iranian identity, both within Iran and across its global diaspora? In this thought-provoking conversation with historian Keanu Heydari, we peel back layers of complexity surrounding one of the world's most politically fragmented diasporic communities.

Heydari, a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan specializing in Iranian student activism in post-war France, offers a refreshingly nuanced perspective that avoids both regime apologetics and demonization. The Iranian diaspora, he explains, represents a fascinating anomaly – unlike other immigrant communities that typically organize around cultural markers, Iranians abroad primarily define themselves through political discourse coalitions. From hardline supporters of the Islamic Republic to advocates of monarchy restoration, these political positions often prevent meaningful dialogue between community members.

We trace the historical trajectory of modern Iran through pivotal moments like the 1953 CIA-orchestrated coup against Mohammad Mossadegh and the 1979 Islamic Revolution, exploring how these events triggered waves of migration and shaped distinct political consciousnesses. Particularly fascinating is Heydari's analysis of how Iranian nationalism occupies a liminal space between European nationalism and anti-colonial struggles, making it simultaneously attractive and repellent to Western leftists.

The conversation ventures into provocative territory when discussing Michel Foucault's misunderstood writings on the Iranian Revolution. Rather than dismissing Foucault as naively romanticizing a repressive regime, Heydari connects Foucault's interest in "Islamic political spirituality" to his broader intellectual project concerning self-transformation and political practice.

Whether you're interested in diaspora politics, Middle Eastern history, or the complex interplay between religion and leftist thought, this conversation challenges simplistic narratives and offers fresh perspectives on Iran's place in global politics. Share your thoughts about this episode and let us know which aspects of Iranian diaspora identity you'd like us to explore further.

Here are the two articles discussed:

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

A shock win feels like a movement—until the math starts. We dig into Zoran Mamdani’s ascent with a clear-eyed look at why voters broke for him, what “anti-politics” actually signals, and how a mayor’s bold promises get squeezed by bonds, taxes, and thin state capacity. The story here isn’t a fairy tale of revival; it’s a patient autopsy of party cartels in decline, activist narratives colliding with ordinary voter motives, and a political entrepreneur who read the room better than the machine.

We unpack the split between the activist layer and the broader electorate: one sees a springboard for a project; the other wants rent relief and competent delivery. That tension meets hard constraints. Cities don’t print money. They borrow or tax, and capital reacts. We trace why progressive mayors post-1950s hit the same wall, why LaGuardia needed Roosevelt’s federal cash, and why Dinkins and de Blasio serve as useful mirrors for what comes next. If national headwinds return—especially a Trump-era reset—does combat raise Mamdani’s profile while shrinking his room to maneuver, or does conciliation cost him the left while buying breathing room?

We also zoom out: unions that poll well but feel managerial on the ground, populism as a political strategy rather than a mass social force, and the broader void where anti-politics thrives. Mamdani’s early refusal to dignify culture-war bait showed how composure builds legitimacy in an era of institutional mistrust; later moralism was safer but weaker. The stakes now are concrete: visible affordability wins without tripping fiscal tripwires. If he threads that needle, he sets a new urban playbook. If not, the void stays open for the next savvy reader of the moment.

If this lens helps you see past the noise, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with the one question you want answered next.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What happens when the revolutionary fervor of Marxism meets the probing depths of the psychoanalytic couch? In this intellectually stimulating conversation, Andrew Flores (host of The Parallax Viewer) explores the fascinating and often contentious relationship between psychoanalytic theory and left politics.

The discussion begins with a fundamental question: why should Marxists care about psychoanalysis at all? Flores argues that psychoanalysis doesn't just treat individual symptoms but addresses the "bourgeois subject"—the psychological effects of living within capitalist social relations. As he eloquently explains, "What psychoanalysis does is deal with a bourgeois subject, the effects of bourgeois consciousness... Marx invented the symptom, not Freud." This provocative claim opens a pathway to understanding how our internal psychological conflicts might reflect broader social contradictions.

Delving into Lacanian theory, Flores unpacks the three registers—Imaginary, Symbolic, and Real—that structure our experience, showing how they relate to political formation and revolutionary potential. The conversation weaves through structuralism, Althusserian Marxism, and contemporary thinkers like Alain Badiou and Domenico Losurdo, revealing the complex theoretical lineages that continue to shape leftist thought.

Perhaps most relevant to our current moment is the discussion of social fragmentation, paranoia, and what might be called our collective psychosis. As conspiracy theories proliferate and ideological certainties dissolve, psychoanalytic concepts offer valuable tools for understanding how individual and collective delusions form in response to social trauma.

Whether you're a seasoned theoretical traveler or new to these intellectual territories, this conversation offers fresh insights into how we might understand the relationship between our inner lives and the social structures that shape them—and perhaps how we might transform both.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What does it mean to build a socialist party in America today? The Marxist Unity Group, a left caucus within the Democratic Socialists of America, offers their perspective on this critical question while unpacking the complexities of DSA's internal dynamics, electoral strategy, and revolutionary vision.

Fresh from DSA's national convention, MUG members celebrate significant victories including the passage of their "Principles of Party Building" resolution and the election of three caucus members to national leadership. They explore how the convention demonstrated both DSA's growing maturity and the ongoing tensions between different political tendencies within the organization.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when examining DSA's relationship with electoral campaigns, particularly Zoran Mamdani's potentially historic mayoral run in New York City. As Mamdani's messaging shifts toward the mainstream, the panelists wrestle with fundamental questions: How should socialists approach executive office? Can reforms be won without compromising revolutionary principles? What happens when elected officials begin to distance themselves from the very organization that helped elect them?

What emerges is a thoughtful analysis of the challenges facing socialist politics in America today. The MUG members articulate how winning reforms must be connected to a broader revolutionary program and party-building strategy. They highlight how declining trust in institutions creates openings for socialist politics, but only if socialists can offer genuine alternatives rather than simply better management of the existing system.

Whether you're a DSA member, a curious observer of left politics, or someone trying to understand how socialists navigate America's difficult political terrain, this conversation offers valuable insights into building working class power in challenging times. Listen now to explore these crucial strategic questions with some of DSA's most thoughtful organizers.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

In this riveting conversation with Dave Stockdale of Nightmare Masterclass, we dive deep into the crumbling foundations of media trust and how dark money shapes our information landscape. The discussion begins with a critical examination of the recent "Chorus" controversy, where progressive influencers took billionaire funding while decrying criticism as "misinformation" – adopting the very tactics they once condemned from the right.

What makes this conversation particularly compelling is how it connects these media credibility issues to broader cultural trends in film and entertainment. We explore how modern horror directors like Ari Aster are creating sophisticated works with complex social commentary, only to have critics mischaracterize them through simplistic political lenses. Films like "Eddington" and "Weapons" aren't straightforward propaganda but artistic expressions designed to generate meaningful discourse about society's challenges.

The fragmentation of media extends beyond news into entertainment, with streaming services oversaturating the market while younger generations increasingly disconnect from traditional formats entirely. Many Zoomers report they simply don't watch movies, creating separate cultural universes where shared reference points become increasingly rare. This disconnection mirrors the broader social atomization affecting everything from politics to personal relationships.

Perhaps most fascinating is our examination of how parasocial relationships are replacing genuine social connections, a trend that Dave describes as potentially "Armageddon-like" in its implications. When people claim "there is no more social, only parasocial," they're describing a fundamentally broken society incapable of collective action or shared understanding.

Whether you're concerned about media manipulation, fascinated by horror cinema's evolution, or simply trying to make sense of our increasingly fragmented culture, this conversation offers valuable insights into how we might navigate these challenging times with greater awareness and intentionality.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

What makes a radical left movement actually succeed in the 21st century? In this deeply illuminating conversation, Henry Wallis of New International Magazine breaks down how France Unbowed has become one of Europe's most significant left formations while avoiding the collapse that befell similar movements.

Unlike traditional leftist organizations fixated on ideological purity or social democratic parties comfortable with existing institutions, France Unbowed has pioneered a "radical left" approach that combines electoral participation with revolutionary aims. At its core lies a sophisticated theory recognizing our era's unique material conditions: unprecedented urbanization, ecological crisis, and complete dependence on networks capitalism controls.

Wallace reveals how France Unbowed's organizational model builds power through osmosis rather than rigid party structures. Their "action groups" federate across France, creating an accessible movement where anyone can participate without ideological litmus tests. Most critically, they maintain unwavering commitment to their program, holding elected officials strictly accountable - something American movements like DSA have failed to achieve.

The conversation explores urgent questions facing left movements globally: How do we balance electoral strategy with systemic transformation? Can we build internationalism without retreating into nationalism? What organizational forms actually deliver victories rather than moral posturing? And perhaps most importantly, how do we create movements that speak to people's immediate needs while maintaining revolutionary integrity?

For anyone frustrated by the American left's fragmentation, France Unbowed offers practical lessons. Their focus on programmatic unity over ideological purity, their strategic electoral engagement, and their ability to address 21st-century crises like climate change provide a roadmap for building mass movements capable of challenging power.

Whether you're a seasoned organizer or simply seeking alternatives to our broken political system, this episode offers rare insights into a movement that's actually winning. The question remains: can we learn from their example?

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic

This episode was released patreon's only in 2021. Mario Tronti and Antonio Negri stand as towering figures in the forgotten history of Italian radical Marxism. Their theoretical frameworks - operaismo and autonomia - emerged from the unique contradictions of post-war Italy: a strong Communist Party trapped in parliamentary politics while workers sought more direct forms of resistance.

What made these movements revolutionary wasn't just their militancy but their methodological breakthrough. Rather than lecturing workers about theory, intellectuals like Raniero Panzieri entered factories to listen and learn through "co-research." From this engagement came Tronti's profound insight: contrary to orthodox Marxism, workers' struggles drive capitalist development, not vice versa. Capital constantly recomposes itself in response to labor's resistance - a perspective that brilliantly anticipated neoliberalism's fragmentation of the working class decades before it became obvious to others.

The movements diverged when Tronti returned to parliamentary politics while Negri pursued increasingly militant autonomia, arguing that capitalism had shifted from development to pure control, requiring immediate resistance rather than long-term organization. This split reflected broader tensions within radical movements worldwide: reform versus revolution, patience versus urgency, institutions versus direct action. Their theoretical extensions were equally significant - connecting factory struggles to unwaged domestic labor and laying groundwork for social reproduction theory.

Whether you're interested in Italian political history, Marxist theory, or the roots of contemporary social movements, this discussion illuminates how these forgotten radical thinkers anticipated our present predicaments with uncanny accuracy. Their legacy reminds us that revolutionary theory emerges not from abstract philosophizing but from genuine engagement with workers' lived experiences.

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

Support the show

Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

Links and Social Media:
twitter: @varnvlog
blue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.social
You can find the additional streams on Youtube

Current Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic