Shows
Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Justice for Colombian Fisherman, Carranza Medina” with Dan KovalikCarranza Medina was a 42-year-old fisherman killed when the U.S. military bombed his small boat in the Caribbean off Colombia’s coast on September 15, 2025, in a strike the Trump administration described as targeting drug traffickers. In this podcast, we have a conversation with human rights lawyer and author Dan Kovalik, who represents the Carranza family and has filed a petition before the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights arguing that the United States carried out an extrajudicial killing and violated both his right to life and Colombia’s sovereignty.
Kovalik discusses the escalating U.S. mili...
2025-12-1954 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Chile in Their Hearts” with John DingesIn this deep-dive episode, we sit down with legendary investigative journalist and author John Dinges to discuss his acclaimed book, “Chile in Their Hearts: The Untold Story of Two Americans Who Went Missing After the Coup.”
Journey back to the early 1970s, when Chile became the global epicenter for progressive hope, attracting thousands of idealistic foreigners, including young Americans, to witness Salvador Allende's democratic "revolution with red wine and empanadas." Dinges, who was there, sets the scene of this vibrant, politically charged moment.
The heart of the conversation is Dinges's decades-long investigation into the fates of t...
2025-12-101h 19Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford” with Carla KaplanIn this podcast is an interview with Dr. Carla Kaplan, author of the biography "Troublemaker: The Life and Times of Jessica Mitford." The conversation centers on the extraordinary life of Jessica "Decca" Mitford, one of the famous (and famously eccentric) Mitford sisters.
Jessica "Decca" Mitford was an aristocratic British rebel who became a formidable American left-wing activist and muckraking journalist. Born into the famously eccentric Mitford family—where her sisters included a Nazi sympathizer and a fascist—Decca rejected her life of privilege to join the Communist Party in the United States. As the author expla...
2025-11-261h 13Coming From Left Field (Audio)“No Neutrals There: US Labor, Zionism, & the Struggle for Palestine” with Jeff SchuhrkeIn this podcast we discuss the just released book, “No Neutrals There,” in which labor historian Dr. Jeff Schuhrke outlines the US labor movement's century-long, official alliance with Zionism and Israel, arguing that this stance was driven both by early ideological sympathy for Labor Zionism and, more significantly, by the labor bureaucracy's strategic alignment with US imperial aims during the Cold War and the "War on Terror." He reveals a history of top-down suppression of internal dissent, where national leaders routinely quashed rank-and-file efforts to support Palestinian rights and the BDS movement.
However, Dr. Schuhrke also highlights a pe...
2025-11-1956 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“The American Revolution and the Fate of the World” with Richard BellThink you know the story of the American Revolution? Think again. In this episode, acclaimed author and history professor Dr. Richard Bell joins the podcast to discuss his book "The American Revolution and the Fate of the World,” where he dismantles the myths and explores the shocking global story behind America's founding.
Forget the simple tale of colonists vs. the British crown. Dr. Bell reveals the Revolution as a world war, a chaotic and contingent struggle whose outcome was never certain. We dive into the fascinating, often overlooked connections to China, India, and the Caribbean, and uncover th...
2025-11-0457 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class & How to Win Them Back” with Joan WilliamsIn this episode, acclaimed author and law professor Joan Williams joins the podcast to discuss her book "Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back."
Williams delivers a powerful diagnosis of the political rift dividing America, arguing that the Democratic Party has become dominated by a cosmopolitan elite and has alienated the "middle 50%" of Americans through economic neglect and cultural condescension. She describes how alienation is a primary reason for Trump’s appeal.
The conversation offers a roadmap for how the left can reconnect by ackn...
2025-10-2156 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Domestic Causes of American Wars: Economic & Political Triggers” with Ivan ElandIn this episode of "Coming from Left Field," we discuss the book, "Domestic Causes of American War: Economic and Political Triggers," with author and former National Security Analyst for Congress, Dr. Ivan Eland. This is a provocative reassessment of American military history. Dr. Eland systematically argues that the standard narrative of the United States going to war for national security and democratic ideals is largely a myth. Instead, he contends that the true drivers behind most major US conflicts, from the early Barbary Wars and the War of 1812 through the World Wars and up to the invasion of Iraq, h...
2025-10-1555 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“From Perception to Pleasure: The Neuroscience of Music & Why We Love It” with Robert ZatorreIn this episode of "Coming from Left Field," we sit down with world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Robert Zatorre to discuss his book “From Perception to Pleasure: The Neuroscience of Music and Why We Love It.”
We discuss the connection between music and the human brain, exploring how abstract sounds are transformed into intense emotional experiences and profound pleasure. Dr. Zatorre shares the fascinating science behind musical "chills," why we have emotional epiphanies with new music, and how our brains are physically rewired by the music we love.
Moving from the laboratory to daily life, the conversation delv...
2025-10-081h 00Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Smart Fish Don’t Bite” with Bill EhrhartIn this podcast, we have a conversation with poet Bill Ehrhart, whose new poetry book, “Smart Fish Don’t Bite,” serves as a testament to a life fully examined. While Ehrhart's identity is often intertwined with the war—a theme he explores but resists being solely defined by—the discussion reveals a writer whose poetry grapples with a vast range of human experience, from the nostalgic innocence of childhood and the enduring comfort of love and friendship to sharp, satirical critiques of modern politics.
The interview traces his unconventional path to becoming a writer, sustained by his wife...
2025-09-101h 11Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Homeland: The War on Terror in American Life” with Richard BeckRichard Beck was 14 years old when planes flew into the Twin Towers on 9/11. He grew up in a Philadelphia suburb as a “mainstream liberal Democrat,” and during high school, was more concerned with music than politics. After graduating from Harvard, Beck moved to New York, where he still resides, and began contributing to the progressive journal n+1, a print and digital magazine of literature, culture, and politics.
In this podcast, we discuss his new book, “Homeland: The War on Terror in American Life,” a groundbreaking history of how the decades-long war on terror changed virtually every aspect of America...
2025-09-031h 01Coming From Left Field (Audio)“The Capital of Slavery: Washington, D.C. 1800-1865” with Gerald HorneWas the founding of the United States a "great leap forward for humanity" or a project deeply rooted in slavery and settler colonialism?
In this episode, we sit down with renowned historian Dr. Gerald Horne to discuss his new book, “The Capital of Slavery: Washington, D.C. 1800-1865.”
We dismantle the myth of Washington, D.C. as a pure symbol of democracy and reveal its brutal reality as the nerve center of American slavery. We discuss how enslaved people were sold in the shadow of the Capitol and how their resistance—includin...
2025-08-2558 minComing From Left Field (Audio)Fake Work: How I Began to Suspect Capitalism is a Joke” with Leigh Claire La BergeIn this episode of Coming from Left Field, we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with author Leigh Claire La Berge about her book “Fake Work: How I Began to Suspect Capitalism is a Joke.” Drawing from her surreal experience documenting Y2K compliance for a Fortune 500 company—a job focused on generating legal cover rather than solving technical issues— La Berge explores the absurdity of modern corporate culture and how "bullshit jobs" reveal deeper flaws in capitalism.
The discussion touches on Marxist critiques, parallels between the dot-com bubble and today’s AI hype, and La Berge’s hum...
2025-08-1357 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Raise Your Hand If You Hear My Voice,” poetry with Janice Cummings O’MahonyJoin us for a heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation with poet Janice Cummings O’Mahony as we dive into her new collection of poetry, “Raise Your Hand If You Hear My Voice,” exploring memory, family, love, grief, and resilience.
Janice’s work blends nostalgia with sharp wit, tackling themes like childhood, military trauma, aging, and social justice. Her poems move seamlessly between emotional depth and snarky humor, offering a raw and authentic look at life’s complexities.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
Why Janice turned to poetry after a career in social work and government...
2025-08-0852 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“America, América: A New History of the New World” with Greg GrandinIn this thought-provoking episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Greg Grandin joins us to discuss his groundbreaking book, “America, América: The Origins of Hemispheric and Global Hegemony,” which challenges traditional narratives of U.S. history by centering Latin America’s pivotal role.
We discuss:
Why does U.S. history begin with the Mayflower—and not the Spanish conquest?
How did Latin America pioneer social rights (healthcare, education) decades before the U.S. or Europe?
The dark legacy of U.S. intervention: From Cold War coups to the rise of Trumpist politics in Latin America today.
Myth-busting the frontier...
2025-08-011h 01Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Radio Tacoma: A Low-Power FM Media Revolution” with Pam BealThis episode features an interview with Pam Beal, a board member of Radio Tacoma (KTAH 101.9), a grassroots low-power FM station dedicated to democratizing media and amplifying local voices.
Pam attended Wilson High School, Concordia Lutheran College, and Reed College. She received her Ph.D. in English (dissertation on William Blake and Enlightenment philosophy) from SUNY Buffalo, which provides a perfect background to run a community radio station.
Radio Tacoma is part of the rise of low-power FM (LPFM) community radio stations, focusing on local content that includes progressive politics, labor rights, climate activism, indigenous rights...
2025-07-1652 minComing From Left Field (Audio)Overview of Coming From Left Field PodcastThis is a 10-minute "deep dive" overview of the Coming From Left Field Podcast created by Google's AI NotebookLM research assistant. It provides a summary of the content and highlights selective episodes that have been aired over the past four years, where we discuss politics, history, economics, social justice, media, and philosophy—often from a critical, leftist perspective.
Core Themes Include:
Politics & History: Critique of mainstream narratives, discussions on democracy, imperialism, and historical events (e.g., Greensboro massacre).
Economics & Labor: Focus on neoliberalism, wealth inequality, and labor movements.
Education & Media: Analysis of education policy, media bias, and...
2025-07-1310 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Bonfire: American Sociocide, Broken Relations, & the Quest for Democracy” with Charles Derber113-“Bonfire: American Sociocide, Broken Relations, & the Quest for Democracy” with Charles Derber
In this episode, we dive deep into America's social crisis with sociologist Charlie Derber, author of “Bonfire of America: Sociocide, Broken Relationships, and the Quest for Democracy.” Derber explores the concept of "sociocide"—the systemic unraveling of societal bonds—arguing that hyper-individualism, neoliberal economics, and political polarization have eroded trust, community, and collective identity. The discussion traces how Reagan-era policies, Silicon Valley's disruption, and the Democratic Party's abandonment of class solidarity have fueled Trumpism as a symptom, not an anomaly. While bleak, Derber highlights grassroots res...
2025-06-281h 01Coming From Left Field (Audio)"DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living & Hospice" with Judy KarofskyIn this episode of Coming from Left Field, we dive into America’s broken elder care system with Judy Karofsky, author of “DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice.” We discuss how corporate greed and lack of regulation have turned assisted living into a profit-driven nightmare, where facilities—often run by private equity firms—prioritize cost-cutting over resident dignity. With shocking stories from Judy’s own mother’s ordeal (including wrongful death notices and evictions), the conversation highlights systemic neglect, underpaid staff, and families left powerless.
Our discussion pivots to solutions, from policy reforms (like Biden’s sta...
2025-06-2558 minComing From Left Field (Audio)"Obscene Wealth” with Greg Godels & Pat CummingsIn this podcast, we discuss Greg's article "Obscene Wealth" from MLToday, based on Gabriel Zucman's research on U.S. wealth inequality. Zucman reveals that in 2024, the wealth of the top 0.00001% (19 households) increased by $1 trillion, surpassing Switzerland’s GDP. The top 10% possess 67% of the wealth, while the bottom 50% hold just 3%, leading to economic and political marginalization. The article argues that capitalism inherently concentrates wealth, reinforcing class divisions between capital owners and workers.
A few topics we cover in our conversation include:
Why wealth inequality is worse than income inequality—and how it strangles democracy.
The death of the...
2025-06-1852 minComing From Left Field (Audio)"Antonio Gramsci: Theirs and Ours” Interviewing Greg GodelsIn this podcast we discuss Greg’s recent article in MLToday: “Antonio Gramsci: Theirs and Ours.”
Gramsci, an Italian Marxist philosopher, theorized that ruling classes maintain power through cultural hegemony—controlling institutions like media, education, and religion to shape societal norms. Surprisingly, today’s far-right (e.g., Steve Bannon, Christopher Rufo, Marine Le Pen) has weaponized Gramsci’s ideas, using his playbook to dominate politics by attacking "wokeness," reshaping schools, and leveraging media.
Meanwhile, the left has fragmented into identity politics, failing to unite around class struggle or build a counter-hegemonic movement. Gramsci’s lesson is clear: to c...
2025-06-0450 minComing From Left Field (Audio)"What’s Left” in conversation with Stephen GowansOur podcast features Stephen Gowans, a Canadian political analyst, author, and activist known for his anti-imperialist and socialist views on U.S. foreign policy, capitalism, and Western interventionism.
Gowans authored The Killer's Henchman: Capitalism and the Covid-19 Disaster (2022), Israel, A Beachhead in the Middle East (2019), Patriots, Traitors and Empires (2018), and Washington's Long War on Syria (2017).
His blog, “What’s Left,” critiques Western dominance, corporate media, and capitalism from an anti-imperialist and class struggle perspective.
This discussion examines U.S. foreign policy, media influence, and the challenges faced by the left in addressing capitalism. Gowans...
2025-05-231h 03Coming From Left Field (Audio)"Military AI Watch” A Project Censored Exposé with Peter ByrneIn this podcast, our guest is Peter Byrne, a national and international award-winning investigative reporter and science writer. His works have been published in Scientific American, Wired, Mother Jones, and New Scientist. In partnership with Project Censored, Byrne has launched Military AI Watch, a groundbreaking ten-part series that will run monthly on the Project Censored website.
This exposé reveals the manifold dangers of developing AI applications for military purposes and how the public has been kept in the dark about these efforts, which present potentially disastrous consequences for the world, while promising a financial bonanza to wealthy inv...
2025-05-141h 07Coming From Left Field (Audio)“What’s Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis” with Malcolm HarrisIn this podcast, our guest is Malcolm Harris, the author of the national bestseller “Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World,” a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Today we discuss his latest book, “What’s Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis,” an ambitious work that explores political strategy, alliances, and antagonisms necessary to confront existential threats like climate change and societal collapse. It critiques capitalism's role in these crises and proposes three strategic paths for a viable future: Market Craft, Public Power, and Communism.
Climate crisis demands rapid action and Harris rejec...
2025-05-1058 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Professors Speak Out: The Truth about Campus Investigations” with Nicholas WolfingerIn this podcast, our guest is Nicholas H. Wolfinger, a professor of sociology at the University of Utah, specializing in family demography, marriage and divorce, and social inequality. We discuss his recent book, “Professors Speak Out: The Truth about Campus Investigations,” which examines the often opaque and controversial processes surrounding campus investigations into faculty misconduct, particularly those involving Title IX, discrimination, and other institutional policies. Drawing on firsthand accounts from professors who have undergone such investigations, Dr. Wolfinger highlights concerns about due process, transparency, and the potential for reputational harm—even in cases where allegations are unfounded or politically motivat...
2025-05-0259 minComing From Left Field (Audio)"Where Politics, Philosophy & Mental Health Intersect" with Dr. Russell RazzaqueIn this podcast, our guest is Russell Razzaque, M.D., a practicing psychiatrist based in London, England. He earned his medical degree from the University of London and is a member of the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists. Dr Razzaque is also a writer and media commentator. He has written numerous columns across various publications, including The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Independent. He regularly provides psychological opinions on international television news channels, including the BBC and SKY. He is particularly interested in US politics, and his contributions to the US media include op-ed pieces for The Wall Street...
2025-04-2953 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“The Last American Road Trip: A Memoir” with Sarah KendziorIn this podcast, our guest is Sarah Kendzior, the best-selling author of “The View From Fly Over Country, “Hiding In Plain Sight,” and “They Knew.” Her latest book, “The Last American Road Trip: A Memoir,” is part political history and part memoir, but it is mostly a great road trip romp with her family across the United States before it is too late.
Kendzior has a PhD in anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied authoritarian regimes of the former Soviet Union. After getting her PhD in 2012, Kendzior spent a decade writing about the decline of the...
2025-04-2357 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Crossroads of Change” and Media Reflections with Jim PainterIn this podcast, our guest is Jim Painter, who spent 40 years in the newspaper business as a reporter and photojournalist and ended his career as managing editor of Phoenix’s West Valley View newspaper, published twice a week with a circulation of 80,000.
Jim was one of the first guests on our podcast four years ago. Then we talked about the state of the media, its evolution, biases, and challenges.
Today, we continued to discuss the media landscape that is controlled by a handful of conglomerates, shrinking independent outlets, staff cuts, dominance of Right-Wing consolidation, and de...
2025-04-0457 minComing From Left Field (Audio)Update on Syria with Dan KovalikIn this podcast, Dan Kovalik shares what's really happening in Syria after a recent trip to the country and their new “de facto” government brought to power in large part by U.S. The fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad ended a 53-year dynasty that began with his father. In Syria, the U.S. has now reaped what it has sown as the new leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, takes charge, a former member of ISIS.
Dan Kovalik visited the country in the latter part of January to see for himself what Syria is like under the new regi...
2025-02-261h 02Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Unlikely Alliances” with Zoltán GrossmanIn this podcast, Zoltán Grossman discusses his book, “Unlikely Alliances: Native Nations and White Communities Join to Defend Rural Lands,” which explores the surprising alliances between Native American tribes and white ranchers, farmers, and fishers who historically competed over natural resources, came together to protect their shared environment from external threats like mining, dams, and pipelines.
Zoltán Grossman is known for his work in Native American and Indigenous Studies within the field of geography. He focuses on the intersections of racial and ethnic nationhood, natural resources, militarism, and settler colonialism. His research emphasizes social...
2025-02-181h 07Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Teach Truth: The Struggle for Antiracist Education” with Jesse HagopianIn this podcast, Jesse Hagopian discusses his recent book, ““Teaching Truth: The Struggle for Antiracist Education,” a powerful call to action to defend honest education in the face of increasing censorship, attacks on teachers, the destructive Project 2025 playbook, and constant pressures to dismantle our public education system. Hagopian argues that the struggle for a liberatory education is crucial for democracy and challenges the status quo by highlighting the importance of teaching truth and resisting efforts to regulate knowledge
Jesse Hagopian is an award-winning educator and a prominent voice on educational equity, social justice unionism, and the sch...
2025-02-1458 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Morningside: The 1979 Greensboro Massacre” with Aran Shetterlyn this podcast, Aran Shetterly discusses his recent book, “Morningside: The 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the Struggle for an American City's Soul,” a recounting of all but forgotten, though no less shocking, 1979 racial tragedy that divided Greensboro, North Carolina and then the nation. The book details how a caravan of Klansmen and Neo-Nazis attacked a procession of protestors, resulting in the deaths of five people. This event, known as the Greensboro Massacre, highlights the racial conflict, economic anxiety, and clashes of ideologies that were prevalent at the time.
Aran Shetterly is a writer, editor, and narrative histo...
2025-02-0558 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Bad News from Venezuela” and “Propaganda in the Information Age” with Alan MacLeodIn this podcast, Alan MacLeod discusses his recent books and journalism. Dr. Macleod completed his PhD in Sociology at Glasgow University focusing on research interests of social media, Internet subcultures, propaganda, fake news, and Latin American politics. He is a prolific journalist and has contributed to FAIR.org, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, and MintPress News.
His most recent books include:
“Bad News from Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting,” which examines how Western media has reported on Venezuela since the election of President Hugo Chavez in 1998 including coverage that i...
2025-01-171h 06Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Minneapolis Reckoning- Race, Violence & the Politics of Policing in America” with Michelle PhelpsIn this podcast, Michelle Phelps discusses her book, “Minneapolis Reckoning- Race, Violence & the Politics of Policing in America,” which traces the history of the Minneapolis Police Department, from its founding through to the murder of George Floyd and subsequent reforms. Phelps provides a vivid picture of the possibilities and limits of challenging police power, showing how the dual meaning of the police—as both a promise of state protection and a threat of state violence—creates complex politics that thwart change.
Michelle S. Phelps is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Minnesot...
2025-01-1558 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“You Can’t Please All-Memoirs 1980-2024” with Tariq AliIn this podcast, Tariq Ali discusses the second volume in his memoir series, following “Street Fighting Years.” The book, “You Can’t Please All: Memoirs 1980-2024” covers Ali’s life and political activism from 1980 to 2024. It includes autobiographical notes, journalism, essays, political commentary and personal reflections.
Tariq Ali is a Pakistani-British political activist, writer, historian, filmmaker, and public intellectual. He is well-known for his anti-imperialist stance and has been involved in various political movements since his youth. Ali has written or co-authored over 100 fiction and nonfiction books, covering a wide range of topics, including geopolitics and the histor...
2025-01-0845 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Project Censored's State of the Free Press 2025” with Andy Lee RothIn this podcast, Andy Lee Roth discusses the annual publication of Project Censored State of the Free Press, which takes the pulse of the media and shares the 25 most essential but underreported stories of the past year. Editors Mickey Huff, Shealeigh Voit, and Andy Lee Roth look back on a year in which significant news stories lost out to coverage of celebrities and non-events. They highlight 25 of the most underreported stories of 2024.
Andy Lee Roth is the associate director of Project Censored, a nonprofit media watchdog organization. He coordinates the Campus Affiliates Program, a network o...
2025-01-0355 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Blue Collar Empire” with Jeff SchuhrkeIn this podcast, we talk with Jeff Schuhrke about his book ‘Blue Collar Empire: The Untold Story of US Labor’s Global Anticommunist Crusade.” This book recounts the AFL-CIO’s global anticommunist crusade in the late 20th century, shows how it took place in partnership with the US government’s Cold War-era quest to control labor struggles abroad and explores what this history means for the possibility of international solidarity in the US labor movement today.
Jeff Schuhrke is a labor historian, journalist, union activist, and assistant professor at the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor St...
2024-12-2253 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Who Owns Democracy” with Charles Derber and Yale MagrassIn this podcast, we talk with Charles Derber and Yale Magrass about their book, “Who Owns Democracy?: The Real Deep State and the Struggle Over Class and Caste in America.” This book uniquely reverses today’s MAGA conspiratorial concept of the deep state to reveal how a very real “deeper state” is evident throughout history, back to the founding of American democracy.
Charles Derber, Professor of Sociology at Boston College, has written 26 books on politics, democracy, fascism, corporations, capitalism, climate change, war, culture wars, and social change.
Yale Magrass is a Chancellor Professor of Sociolog...
2024-11-261h 20Coming From Left Field (Audio)"Mastering the Universe” with Rob LarsonIn this podcast, we talk with Rob Larson about his book, “Mastering the Universe: The Obscene Wealth of the Ruling Class, What They Do with Their Money, and Why You Should Hate Them Even More.” Larson is a professor of economics for the past 18 years and has authored numerous books, including “Bit Tyrants: The Political Economy of Silicon Valley” and “Capitalism vs. Freedom: The Toll Road to Serfdom”. He writes for Jacobin and Dollars & Sense and is the House Economist for Current Affairs magazine.
In this book, Larson delves into the extreme wealth and influence of the ruling...
2024-11-161h 00Coming From Left Field (Audio)“The Myth of American Idealism: How US Foreign Policy Endangers the World” with Nathan RobinsonIn this podcast, we talk with Nathan J. Robinson about the book he co-wrote with Noam Chomsky, “The Myth of American Idealism: How U.S. Foreign Policy Endangers the World.” In this book, Noam Chomsky and Nathan J. Robinson outline America’s pursuit of global domination, offering an incisive critique of the self-serving myths that dominant elites in the United States continue to push. They discuss Washington's role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the impact of policies on The Global South, and the potential for future conflicts with Russia and China. They argue that U.S. powe...
2024-11-131h 00Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Duty to Warn: May I Tell You What Project 2025 Really Is?” with Frank SchaefferIn this podcast, we talk with Frank Schaeffer to discuss his recent blog post regarding “Project 2025” and its origins in the theologically conservative Opus Dei and deep-pocket conservative think tanks. Schaeffer is an author, film director, screenwriter, and painter. He is the son of theologian and author Francis Schaeffer, who, with other evangelicals, is responsible for the pro-life movement and the religious-right that emerged in the 1970s. His crisis of faith and disillusionment with the movement led to his departure in the mid-80s.
Duty to Warn: May I Tell You What Project 2025 Really Is?
h...
2024-10-291h 02Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Surveillance Education” with Nolan Higdon and Allison ButlerNolan Higdon and Allison Butler are specialists in media literacy and, with their book, Surveillance Education: Navigating the Conspicuous Absence of Privacy in Schools, they focus attention on the pervasive use of digital surveillance technologies in schools that often results in a pernicious effect on students.
Nolan Higdon is a founding member of the Critical Media Literacy Conference of the Americas, a Project Censored National Judge, an author, and a lecturer at Merrill College and the Education Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA.
Allison Butler is a Senior Lectu...
2024-10-1858 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Marx’s Ethical Vision” with Vanessa WillsDr. Vanessa Wills is a political philosopher, ethicist, educator, and activist based in Washington, DC. She is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at George Washington University. Her areas of specialization are moral, social, and political philosophy, nineteenth-century German philosophy (especially Karl Marx), and the philosophy of race. She is a founding editor of Spectre Journal, a biannual journal of Marxist theory, strategy, and analysis.
In her book Marx's Ethical Vision, she presents novel Marxist positions in various philosophical debates and covers a wide range of Karl Marx's writings while giving a holistic account of his views throughout hi...
2024-10-0157 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“On Cuba: Reflections on 70 years of Revolution and Struggle” with Vijay PrashadVijay Prashad is a historian, journalist, and executive director of the Tri-Continental Institute for Social Research. He has authored or edited 72 books. In “On Cuba,” co-written with Noam Chomsky, they trace Cuban history from the 1950s revolution to the present, interrogating U.S. interventions and extracting lessons on U.S. power and influence in the Western Hemisphere. This book thoroughly analyzes the U.S. government’s long-standing vendetta against Cuba.
Order the book:
On Cuba: Reflections on 70 Years of Revolution and Struggle by Noam Chomsky and Vijay Prashad: https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9781620978573
2024-09-2059 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Dynamite Nashville” with Betsy PhillipsBetsy Phillips, a journalist and historian, is the author of the new book about three unsolved bombings by segregationists in the civil rights era, “Dynamite Nashville: Unmasking the FBI, the KKK, and the Bombers Beyond Their Control.” Phillips not only paints a detailed picture of the social dynamic of the times but reveals how a violent fringe of racists came to national prominence. In Dynamite Nashville, Phillips unmasks "The Confederate Underground," identifying its principal leader, J.B. Stoner, and shines a much-needed historical spotlight on unsung civil rights hero and near martyr Z. Alexander Looby.
Order...
2024-09-061h 02Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Zinnophobia” with David DetmerDr. David Detmer is a Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University Calumet and author of numerous books and professional articles. In his new book, “Zinnophobia: The Battle Over History in Education, Politics, and Scholarship,” Detmer offers an extended defense of the work of radical historian Howard Zinn, author of the bestselling A People's History of the United States, against his many critics. It includes a discussion of the attempt to ban the book in classrooms, a brief summary of Zinn's life and work, an analysis of Zinn's theorizing about bias and objectivity in history, and a detailed response to twent...
2024-08-301h 01Coming From Left Field (Audio)“I Hate It Here, Please Vote For Me” with Matthew FerrenceDr. Matthew Ferrence is an English professor at Allegheny College. In 2020, he ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a deeply red district and lost badly.
In his new book, “I Hate It Here, Please Vote For Me: Essays on Rural Political Decay,” Ferrence chronicles his election defeat to explore how the American political narratives refuse to recognize the existence and value of rural progressive voters and how his election defeat offers insight into the politics of our nation.
In essays focused on living in the countryside, the political power of poetry, and his lands...
2024-08-2155 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Armed Struggle?” with Gerald HorneDr. Gerald Horne is Moores Professor of History and African-American Studies at the University of Houston. He is a renowned historian who has extensively researched and written about issues of racism, labor, politics, civil rights, and international relations. He has authored more than thirty books and numerous scholarly articles. Cornel West describes Dr. Horne as " one of the great historians of our time.”
Today, we discussed his new book, “Armed Struggle? Panthers and Communists; Black Nationalists and Liberals in Southern California through the Sixties and Seventies.” This book examines the complex dynamics and interactions of the Black Panthe...
2024-08-091h 01Coming From Left Field (Audio)“If We Burn” with Vincent BevinsVincent Bevins is an award-winning journalist. He reported for the Financial Times in London, then served as the Los Angeles Times' Brazil correspondent before covering Southeast Asia for the Washington Post.
His first book, The Jakarta Method, came out in 2020 and was named one of the year's best books by the Financial Times and NPR. Today, we discuss his book, “If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution.” From 2010 to 2020, more people participated in protests than at any other point in human history. “If We Burn” investigates why we haven’t seen a significant...
2024-07-1259 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“The Case for Palestine” with Dan KovalikDaniel Kovalik is an American lawyer, human rights activist, author, and academic. He has been involved in various legal and human rights issues, particularly focusing on workers' rights, indigenous rights, and international law. In the book, “The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care,” Kovalik unveils the brutal realities of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, exposing the devastating toll exacted on its civilian population. It documents the role of the United States in sponsoring this destruction by providing unwavering support to Israel.
Dan’s website: https://danielmkovalik.weebly.com/
Order...
2024-07-061h 05Coming From Left Field (Audio)“More Than a Score” with Jesse HagopianJesse Hagopian is a high school teacher in Seattle, a union organizer, co-author of several books, and a powerful force in pushing back against the "over-testing" of students. Jesse’s writing has appeared in publications like The Seattle Times, The Nation, The Progressive, and his commentary on education and politics has been featured in Time magazine, The New Yorker, The PBS News Hour with Gwen Ifill, The Dan Rather Report, and Democracy Now!
Jesse’s website: https://iamaneducator.com/
Order the books
More Than a Score: The New Uprising Agains...
2024-06-211h 01Coming From Left Field (Audio)“They Came For The Schools” with Mike HixenbaughOur guest is Mike Hixenbaugh, senior investigative reporter for NBC News. He has been named a Pulitzer Prize finalist and won a Peabody Award for reporting on the battle over race, gender, and sexuality in American classrooms. “They Came for the Schools,” his first book, is the winner of the prestigious Lukas Work-in-Progress Award. We also discuss his Peabody Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize finalist “Southlake” podcast and his most recent podcast, “Grapevine,” which, unfortunately, is referred to on several occasions as “Grapeview.”
Order the book: They Came for the Schools: One Town's Fight Over Race and Identity, and...
2024-06-0552 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“The Bill Gates Problem” with Tim SchwabOur guest on this podcast is investigative journalist Tim Schwab. His book, “The Bill Gates Problem: Reckoning with the Myth of the Good Billionaire.” It is a definitive critique of Bill Gates and other billionaires who use their immense wealth to forge into the world of unaccountable power philanthropy.
Order the book: The Bill Gates Problem
https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9781250850096
Greg’s Blog (subscribe!): http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
#Timschwab#billgates#melindagates#melindafrench#billionaires#philantropy#theBillGatesProblem#microsoft#billmelindagatesfoundaton#mythgoodbillionare#neilkrause#jonshelton#commoncore...
2024-05-1657 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Poetry – Take 3!” with Janice O’MahonyIn this podcast, our guest is a poet, Pat’s sister, Janice O’Mahony. She lives on Whidbey Island, Washington, and has immersed herself in the community's creative environment.
Janice has always been creative, but once she retired, she focused on being a “poet.” She has published her works in journals and books and spends much of her time honing her bard craft.
Order the book OUT OF THE BLUE four voices
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/out-of-the-blue1
Greg’s Blog (subscribe!): http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
Poems ...
2024-05-081h 07Coming From Left Field (Audio)“The Fantasy Economy” & “The Education Myth” with Neil Kraus & Jon SheltonThis podcast examines education policies, history, and reform from two academics; Dr. Neil Kraus, is Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. His book, The Fantasy Economy: Neoliberalism, Inequality, and the Education Reform challenges the basic assumptions of the education reform movement. Dr. Jon Shelton is Associate Professor of Democracy and Justice Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. His book, “The Education Myth: How Human Capital Trumped Social Democracy” traces how the predominant American view of education evolved from an instrument of democratic instruction to the primary path to a good job.
Both...
2024-05-0350 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Wall Street’s War on Workers” with Les LeopoldLes Leopold’s book, “Wall Street’s War on Workers: How Mass Layoffs and Greed Are Destroying the Working Class and What to Do About It,” connects the dots between long-term trends in corporate capitalism and the last 50 years of neoliberal attacks on the working class. He shows the direct relationship between deregulation, predatory private equity firms, mass layoffs, stock buybacks, and the resulting destruction of the middle class.
As a longtime labor educator and journalist, Leopold describes how the Democrats have lost the longstanding support of millions of urban and rural workers and how both parties take the...
2024-04-191h 09Coming From Left Field (Audio)Update on the Julian Assange Trial with Kevin GosztolaKevin Gosztola’s book, “Guilty of Journalism,” is an essential guide to the case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. As a journalist, Kevin has been reporting on Julian Assange for more than a decade and returns to our podcast to discuss London's High Court recent decision regarding his extradition to the United States. This is an important matter that impacts the future of journalism, freedom of speech, and democracy itself.
Order the book: https://www.sevenstories.com/books/4493-guilty-of-journalism
House Bill 934: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/934
Follow Kevin:
2024-04-0359 minComing From Left Field (Audio)She's a Badass: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism with Katherine Yeske TaylorToday, our guest is Kathrine Yeske Taylor, a rock journalist who has interviewed hundreds of musicians. In her book, “She’s a Badass,” Taylor focuses on twenty significant women in rock such as Ann Wilson, Joan Osborne, Paula Cole, Suzi Quatro, Orianthi and more. She devotes an entire chapter to each one, taking an in-depth look at the incredible talent and influence they had on our music landscape.
Order the book:
She's a Badass: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism
https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9781493072545
Kathrine’s social media:
https://www.faceboo...
2024-03-291h 03Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Trauma & Recovery” and “Truth & Repair” with Judith HermanToday, our guest is Dr. Judith Herman, one of America’s most influential psychiatrists and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and is a distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
Today, we discuss two of her books, the 1992 classic “Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence – from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror,” and her recent book “Truth and Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice.”
Order the books:
Truth and Repair
Trauma and Recovery
Greg’s...
2024-03-211h 03Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Guilty of Journalism: The political case against Julian Assange” with Kevin GosztolaKevin Gosztola, has spent the last decade covering Julian Assange, WikiLeaks, and the wider war on whistleblowers and journalists. His book, “Guilty of Journalism” offers a balanced and comprehensive perspective on all the events leading up to what press freedom advocates have called the trial of the century.
Noam Chomsky noted that Kevin’s book is “Essential reading for those who care about freedom of expression and elementary justice” and the late Daniel Ellsberg stated “Kevin Gosztola is a rare journalist who understands the abominable threat that the case against Assange poses to press freedom.”
Order the book...
2024-03-0853 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Project Censored's State of the Free Press 2024” with Andy Lee RothAndy Lee Roth is the associate director of Project Censored, an American nonprofit media watchdog organization. He holds a PhD in sociology from UCLA.
Project Censored was founded in 1976 by Dr. Carl Jensen at Sonoma State University to research and publicize news media censorship in the news and to develop students’ critical thinking skills and media literacy. Every year, they publish a book, “State of the Free Press,” that highlights the top 25 censored stories and media analyses that promote independent investigative journalism and education about the crucial role of our free press.
Order the book: https...
2024-01-261h 10Coming From Left Field (Audio)”Musing About Our Podcast” with Greg Godels and Pat CummingsThree years ago, we started the podcast Coming From Left Field… where we talk about politics, books, and current events. In this podcast we reflect on some of our guests we have hosted over the 68 episodes, argue where we agree and disagree, and provide observations about our current political apocalypse.
Greg’s Blog (subscribe!): http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
Marxism-Leninism Today (MLToday): https://mltoday.com/
Timestamps:
(01:45) book discussion “How Democracies Die”
(14:14) Dan Kovalik, “Cancel This Book,” “Pink Tide,” “Trip to Russia & Crimea”
(16:24) book discussion Karl Marx
(20:47) Carlos Ga...
2023-12-201h 12Coming From Left Field (Audio)”Inequality Kills Us All: COVID-19’S Health Lessons For The World” with Stephen BezruchkaStephen Bezruchka is a graduate of Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford universities. He now is an Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus, Health Systems, and Population Health at the University of Washington. He worked for three decades as an emergency physician.
In “Inequity Kills Us All” Bezruchka takes a deep dive into the global health data and considers his years of experience as an ER doctor and a public health educator to expose how unjust economics adds up to poor health and higher mortality, and how living in a society with entrenched hierarchies increases the negative effects of illnesses for...
2023-11-171h 09Coming From Left Field (Audio)“They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent” with Sarah Kendzior67 – “They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent” with Sarah Kendzior
Sarah Kendzior is the New York Times bestselling author of Hiding in Plain Sight and The View from Flyover Country. Today we discuss her third book, “They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent” which delves into the world of conspiracy theories and their impact on American society. She argues that the proliferation of conspiracy theories has eroded trust in institutions, undermined democracy, and hindered collective action to address pressing issues.
Kendzior is known for her reporting on St. Louis, her coverage...
2023-11-0853 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Dying for Capitalism: How Big Money Fuels Extinction and What We Can Do About It” with Charles DerberCharlie Derber is a professor of sociology at Boston College and the author of 25 books. Current work focuses on the crises of capitalism, globalization, corporate power, American militarism, the culture of hegemony, the climate crisis, and the new peace and global justice movements.
Today we discuss the book, “Dying for Capitalism: How Big Money Fuels Extinction and What We Can Do About It” by Charles Derber and his co-author, Suren Moodliar.
Order the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Capitalism-Universalizing-Resistance-Charles-Derber/dp/103251258X/
Greg’s article (mentioned) “An Overdue Look at the Environmental Crisis”: https://mlt...
2023-11-011h 15Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Grand Illusion: The Myth of Voter Choice in a Two-Party Tyranny” with Theresa AmatoTheresa Amato is a public advocate, attorney, and founder of the Citizen Advocacy Center in Illinois. She was the national campaign manager and in-house counsel for Ralph Nader for his presidential runs in both 2000 and 2004.
“Grand Illusion: The Myth of Voter Choice in a Two-Party Tyranny” is a powerful argument for electoral reform, especially related to third-party and independent candidates. Phil Donahue’s book review stated Amato “takes the biggest swing―not a jab, but a roundhouse punch―at America’s corrupt electoral system.”
Grand Illusion: The Myth of Voter Choice in a Two-Party Tyranny:
https://www.a...
2023-10-2758 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“How Elites Ate the Social Justice Movement” with Fredrik deBoerFreddie DeBoer has written for many mainstream publications but, in the past few years, has established himself as a Substack community for 47K readers who have had enough of the polarized media. Today, we will discuss his new book, “How Elites Ate the Social Justice Movement,” which explores why a passionate but unfocused social justice movement failed.
Freddie’s Website: https://fredrikdeboer.com/
Order the book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Elites-Social-Justice-Movement/
Freddie’s Substack (subscribe!): https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/
Greg’s Blog (subscribe!): http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
#Fredd...
2023-10-1155 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Hattie’s War: A Novel” with Peter SerkoIt is hard to describe Peter Serko. He’s been a counselor, IT professional, playwright, filmmaker, museum quality photographer and now, add novelist. After acquiring a tattered cardboard box with old books, photos, and diaries from his great-grandmother, Peter became inspired to research his family genealogy and write a historical fiction novel about Hattie, a 14 year old girl and distant relative trying to make sense of post-Civil War America.
We also discuss Peter’s play, “My Brother Kissed Mark Zuckerberg” and film, “Footnote” which is a loving tribute to his brother who died of AIDS in the late 1980’s...
2023-10-0454 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“The First Privilege Walk” & “Radical Hamilton” with Christian ParentiProfessor and author, Christian Parenti, discusses a wide range of topics today including his article in NONSITE.org, ‘The First Privilege Walk,’ which may be the symbolic origin story of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion industry. We also overview his book 'Radical Hamilton' and how the founding father was more progressive for his time than credited. In a fun, free-for-all exchange, many other topics are covered such as COVID, wokeness, policing, political economy vs capitalist economic development, and the left’s response to the pandemic.
References:
The First Privilege Walk -NONSite.org
Radic...
2023-09-201h 20Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Alphabet Boys Podcast: Trojan Hearse” with Trevor AaronsonOur guest today is award-winning investigative journalist and contributing writer at The Intercept, Trevor Aaronson. His seminal book “The Terror Factory: Inside the FBI’s Manufactured War On Terrorism” exposed the questionable counterterrorism tactics the Bureau used so they could claim it was winning the “war on terror.” His recent podcast, ‘Alphabet Boys” is a secret investigation of the FBI, CIA, DEA, ATF, and other alphabet agencies. He asks the question, “Are America’s top cops catching criminals -- or creating them?”
Website: https://trevoraaronson.com/
Podcast: Alphabet Boys Podcast: Trojan Hearse
Book: The Terror Factory: Inside the FBI’s Manufactured War O...
2023-09-0651 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“The Human Rights Industry” with Alfred de ZayasOur guest today, Alfred de Zayas, is a prominent scholar, lawyer, historian, and human rights expert. He has an impressive academic background, having earned a law degree from Harvard Law School, as well as a Ph.D. in history from the University of Göttingen in Germany. Throughout his career, he has focused on international law, human rights, and the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.
Website: http://alfreddezayas.com/
Blog: https://dezayasalfred.wordpress.com/
Greg's ZZs Blog:
http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
#AlfreddeZayas#DeZayas#UnitedNations#TheHumanRightsIndustry#CounteringMainstreamNarratives#FakeNews#FakeLaw#FakeFree...
2023-08-231h 17Coming From Left Field (Audio)“What We Can and Can’t Afford: Essays on Vietnam, Patriotism and American Life” with Bill EhrhartBill Ehrhart’s experiences in the Vietnam War have defined his life—first as an enlisted member of a Marine infantry battalion, then as an author, poet, and teacher who has spent fifty years explaining the war and its consequences in books, lectures, and interviews. In this podcast, we discuss his recent book of essays on diverse topics, being a teacher, the VA, coming from Vietnam, and much more. Here is a link to a few supplemental pictures: http://comingfromleftfield.com/ehrhart
W.D. Ehrhart home page: https://wdehrhart.com/
Buy the book: https...
2023-07-261h 02Coming From Left Field (Audio)The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power with Vijay PrashadVijay Prashad is an American-based Indian Marxist historian; he has written over 20 books and is the founder and executive director of the Tri-Continental Institute for Social Research. In this podcast, we discuss his recent book with Noam Chomsky, "The Withdrawal," and his observations regarding our foreign policy with China.
Wenhua Zongheng, Quarterly Journal of Chinese Thought
https://dongshengnews.org/en/whzh-vol1-no1/
https://dongshengnews.org/en/whzh-vol1-no2/
The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power by Noam Chomsky (Author), Vijay Prashad (Author), Angel...
2023-06-301h 02Coming From Left Field (Audio)Peace Activist, Dan Kovalik, reports on his trip to Russia & CrimeaDaniel Kovalik, is a human rights lawyer, author, and professor. He has focused on issues such as labor rights, human rights, and international law. He has written numerous books that criticize what he sees as U.S. foreign policy agendas and media narratives that demonize certain countries.
In this podcast we discuss his recent trip to Russia and Crimea where, as a peace activist, he tries to make sense of the Ukraine conflict and offer context for understanding and resolution.
Photo Album (supplement to podcast)
https://comingfromleftfield.com/photos
Dan’s b...
2023-06-131h 03Coming From Left Field (Audio)“I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It!” with Norman FinkelsteinWe welcome Norman Finkelstein to our podcast, a prominent political scientist known for his writings, research, and scholarship on the middle east. In 2020, he was named the fifth most influential political scientist in the world.
In his new book,” I'll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It! Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom,” he discusses how the Left undermines class politics from within, the misguided legacy of Barack Obama, the censorious culture within US academia and his new book, and the crazy politics of social activists like Kimberlé Crenshaw, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Robin...
2023-06-0853 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Moms for Liberty” with Walker BragmanWalker Bragman is a journalist, JD, occasional cartoonist, and co-founder of OptOut Media Foundation. He writes for Salon, The Hill, Truth Out, Huffington Post and other publications. His recent reporting involves “Moms for Liberty,” an astroturf organization influenced by right-wing dark money that has been accused of using "parental rights" as a cover for strategically harassing public schools.
Links to Walker Bragman’s journalism:
Important Context News: https://www.importantcontext.news/
OptOut News: https://www.optout.news/
Greg's ZZs Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
Walkerbragman#momsforliberty#M4L#MFL#p...
2023-05-2659 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“The Land Is Not Empty” with Sarah AugustineSarah Augustine, a Pueblo (Tewa) descendant, is the founder and co-chair of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, a legal principal that originated in the 15th and 16th centuries to justify colonial expansion and domination of indigenous land rights and tribal sovereignty. We discuss impact of this doctrine, native boarding schools, combating the “extractive logic” of exploiting nature for profit rather than social value and rights for indigenous people.
Book:
The Land Is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery
Website:
The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctr...
2023-05-1958 minComing From Left Field (Audio)Undercover Labor Organizing & the William Z. Foster Playbook with Chris TownsendWilliam Z. Foster was one the most recognized and respected labor leaders in U.S. history. Chris Townsend is his prodigy. A long-time union organizer and, with the support of others, is instrumental in the unionization of Starbucks stores across the country.
Book:
Working Class Giant by Arthur Zipser
https://www.intpubnyc.com/browse/working-class-giant/
Links:
The Undercover Organizers Behind America’s Union Wins-Portside
https://portside.org/2023-04-04/undercover-organizers-behind-americas-union-wins
Secret Union Tactic Fuels Unprecedented Labor Wins- Bloomberg News Original- YouTube:
https://youtu.be...
2023-05-041h 03Coming From Left Field (Audio)”Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream” with Alissa QuartThe promise that you can “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” is central to the story of the American Dream. Not so fast…. Acclaimed journalist Alissa Quart argues that at the heart of our suffering is a do-it-yourself ethos, the misplaced belief in our independence, and the conviction that we must rely on ourselves alone.
Alissa Quart website:
http://www.alissaquart.com/
Book:
Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream by Alissa Quart
https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9780063028005
Economic Hardship Project
htt...
2023-04-2950 minComing From Left Field (Audio)”The Purity Fetish and the Crisis of Western Marxism” with Carlos GarridoCarlos Garrido provides a comprehensive development of his concept of the purity fetish, tracing the outlook to the Eleatic school of Ancient Greek philosophy and showing how it has appeared in 20th and 21st century Western Marxism and contemporary U.S. socialism.
Book:
"The Purity Fetish and the Crisis of Western Marxism" by Carlos Garrido
https://www.midwesternmarx.com/books.html
Please subscribe to the Midwestern Marx YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@MidwesternMarx
Greg's ZZs Blog:
http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
Carlos...
2023-04-271h 17Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Responding to the Right: Brief Replies to 25 Conservative Arguments” with Nathan RobinsonNathan Robinson is the editor of Current Affairs magazine and is a leading voice of millennial left politics. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Republic, The Nation, Salon, The Guardian, and elsewhere.
We discuss his new book where he gives a detailed explanation of how conservative arguments work and why we need to resist them, then goes through twenty-five separate talking points, showing precisely why each one fails.
Book:
Responding to the Right: Brief Replies to 25 Conservative Arguments by Nathan J. Robinson
https://www.kingsbookstore...
2023-03-3136 minComing From Left Field (Audio)Smedley D. Butler “War Is A Racket” with Bill EhrhartOur “friend of the show,” Bill Ehrhart returns to our podcast to discuss General Smedley D. Butler, one of the most colorful officers in the Marine Corps' long history; he was one of the two Marines who received two Medals of Honor for separate acts of outstanding heroism.
Butler and Ehrhart are both cut from the same cloth, Marines, opinionated, and on the correct side of politics.
Supplemental pictures and videos:
https://ComingFromLeftField.com/sb
Books:
War Is A Racket by Smedley D. Butler
Gangs...
2023-03-081h 07Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Strongmen: From Mussolini to Present ” with Ruth Ben-GhiatRuth Ben-Ghiat is a Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University. She is an MSNBC Opinion Columnist and commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and other media outlets about authoritarianism, Fascism, and threats to democracy around the world.. Her latest book, Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, looks at how illiberal leaders use propaganda, corruption, violence, and machismo - and how they can be defeated.
The book:
Strongmen- Mussolini To The Present
https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9780393868418
Substack:
Ruth Ben-Ghiat Lucid Substack
https://luc...
2023-02-1046 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“The Footpaths of Justice William O. Douglas” with Tom R. HulstTom Hulst was a policy advisor to Washington Governor Daniel J. Evans, an administrator in the State Office of Public Instruction, superintendent of Peninsula School District, and college political science teacher. His book “The Footpaths of Justice William O. Douglas” is a remarkable tribute to Douglas, hiking, place, and family.
Tom’s book:
The Footpaths of Justice William O. Douglas: A Legacy of Place
https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9780595330409
Greg's ZZs Blog:
http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
#TomHulst#TomRHulstl# TheFootpathsofJustice#WilliamODouglas#ALegacyofPlace#Originalist#Yakima#Hiking#Pa...
2023-01-271h 07Coming From Left Field (Audio)Jan 6, Big Lie, and American Myths with Anthony ConwrightAnthony Conwright is a writer and educator based in New York City. He contributes to Mother Jones, The Nation, Huffington Post, New Republic, and others. He is a remarkable journalist, always with a refreshingly unique perspective on our modern political economy. Follow his works on:
Mother Jones:
https://www.motherjones.com/author/anthony-conwright/
The Nation:
https://www.thenation.com/authors/anthony-conwright/
Huffington Post:
https://www.huffpost.com/author/aconwright-628
Greg's ZZs Blog:
http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
ERRATA 20:13 Michael Brow...
2023-01-131h 10Coming From Left Field (Audio)“Winston Churchill: His Times, His Crimes” with Tariq AliTariq Ali is a writer, activist, and longtime public intellectual. He has authored many books and is a member of the editorial committee of the New Left Review. He contributes to The Guardian, CounterPunch, and the London Review of Books.
His most recent book is a critical review that exposes Churchill’s leadership in the context of forgotten Imperial crimes.
Book:
“Winston Churchill: His Times, His Crimes” with Tariq Ali
https://www.versobooks.com/books/3971-winston-churchill
Greg's ZZs Blog:
http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
#TariqA...
2022-12-2850 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Behind the Decline of the U.S. Left” with Stansfield SmithStansfield Smith is a member of Chicago ALBA Solidarity, formerly the Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5. Stansfield is a long-time anti-war activist and opposed U.S. interference over the years in Latin America. He is a prolific writer, and his works have appeared in publications such as CounterPunch, Dissident Voice, MLToday, Black Agenda, CovertAction Magazine, and MultiPolarisia.
Links:
Part 1: National Security State Censoring of Anti-Imperialist Voices the Latest Phase of their Long-Term Strategy to Divide and Control the Left (Jun 23, 2022)
https://tinyurl.com/yjpschj3
Part 2: Behind the Decline of the...
2022-12-211h 06Coming From Left Field (Audio)“We Are Proud Boys” with Andy CampbellAndy Campbell, the Senior Editor of Huffington Post, joined us today to discuss his book, “We Are Proud Boys: How a Right-Wing Street Gang Ushered in a New Era of American Extremism .” Andy is considered an expert on American extremism, having covered the modern rise of the far-right at the ground level, including the neo-Nazi rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017.
Links:
“We Are Proud Boys: How a Right-Wing Street Gang Ushered in a New Era of American Extremism” by Andy Campbell:
https://www.amazon.com/Are-Proud-Boys-Right-Wing-Extremism/dp/0306827468
Andy Campbell articles in Huff Post:...
2022-11-301h 04Coming From Left Field (Audio)Thank You For Your Service” with Bill EhrhartToday’s guest is an American poet, writer, scholar, and Vietnam veteran. Bill (W.D.) Ehrhart has been called "the dean of Vietnam war poetry." His activism in the form of his prolific literary work has been featured in numerous articles, books, periodicals, and even Ken Burns’ documentary, The Vietnam War.
Links:
W.D. Ehrhart’s books from McFarland Publishing:
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/?s=W.+D.+Ehrhart&search_id=product&post_type=product
W.D. Ehrhart Articles in the LA Progressive |Jun 2014 to Nov 2022:
https://www.laprogressive.com/author/w-d-ehrh...
2022-11-231h 08Coming From Left Field (Audio)“American Midnight” with Adam HochschildOur guest today is an award-winning New York Times best-selling historian Adam Hochschild to discuss his book, “American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis.” Adam Hochschild is a prominent historian, author of eleven books, and a co-founder, editor, and writer at Mother Jones magazine.
Links:
“American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis.”
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/american-midnight-adam-hochschild?variant=40001056014370
Greg's ZZs Blog:
http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
AdamHochschild#AmericanMidnight #WoodrowWilson#JEdgarHoover#Debs#Facism#WW1#GregGodels#zzblog#PatCummings#C...
2022-11-1659 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Socialism Betrayed” with Joe Jamison and Roger KeeranOur guests today are Joe Jamison (pen name: Thomas Kenny) and Roger Keeran, authors of “Socialism Betrayed: Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union.” Although written two decades ago, it remains the definitive expose of what led to the overthrow of the Soviet Union. With the recent death of Mikhail Gorbachev, their book is especially relevant, providing a clear and insightful analysis of this historic event.
Links:
“Socialism Betrayed: Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union”:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/socialism-betrayed-behind-the-collapse-of-the-soviet-union-roger-keeran/7617565
Greg's ZZs Blog:
http://zzs-blg.blo...
2022-10-291h 09Coming From Left Field (Audio)Salon Investigates “The War on Public Schools” with Kathryn JoyceOur guest today is Kathryn Joyce, an investigative reporter at Salon. She recently authored a three-part series: ‘The war on public schools is being fought from Hillsdale College,” which focuses on a private Christian school playing an outsized role in nearly all our current fights about education.
Hillsdale is a “feeder school” for the Trump administration, its leadership directed Trump’s “patriotic education” 1776 Commission. Their lecture series and related magazine are the place where right-wing politicians and thinkers go to pilot their most ambitious ideas.
Links:
“The war on public schools is being fought from Hill...
2022-09-1654 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Pleading Out: How Plea Bargaining Creates a Permanent Criminal Class” with Dan CanonOur guest today is Dan Canon, a civil rights lawyer, teacher, and author of "Pleading Out: How Plea Bargaining Creates a Permanent Criminal Class." His book is a searing analysis of America’s assembly-line approach to criminal justice and the shameful practice at its core: the plea bargain.
Canon is also known as counsel for Kentucky and Indiana plaintiffs in the landmark cases successfully supporting changes in marriage equality laws.
Links:
Dan’s book:
“Pleading Out: How Plea Bargaining Creates a Permanent Criminal Class”:
https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/dan-canon/pleading-out/9781541674684/
...
2022-09-1455 minComing From Left Field (Audio)The “Pink Tide” discussion of Latin America’s political turn left with Dan KovalikOur guest today is Dan Kovalik, a prolific author of many books on Latin America. He sheds light on the “pink tide,” the trend of numerous self-proclaimed socialist democracies moving away from neoliberal authoritarian regimes.
Links:
Dan Kovalik Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Kovalik
Preorder Dan’s book: Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention & Resistance– January 1, 2023: https://www.amazon.com/Nicaragua-History-US-Intervention-Resistance/dp/1949762602
Greg's ZZ's Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
#DanKovalik#pinktide#Columbia#Venezuela#Nicaragua#GustavPetro#NicolasMaduro#Marxist#polticalanalysis#greggodels#patcummings#zzsblog#comingfromleftfield#podcast#operationcondor#politicaleconomy#capitalism#la...
2022-08-261h 01Coming From Left Field (Audio)”Blackshirts & Reds” book discussion with Eddie Smith (Midwestern Marx Podcast)Our guest today, Eddie Smith, is a political scientist with expertise in anti-imperialism and socialist projects. He is co-host of the popular podcast, Midwestern Marx, which has over 24,000 subscribers. Today we discuss Michael Parenti’s classic, Blackshirts & Reds, and other topics regarding class, capitalism, and contemporary Marxism.
Links:
Midwestern Marx YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/MidwesternMarx/ )
Midwestern Marx Tik Tok (https://www.tiktok.com/discover/midwestern-marx )
Eddie’s July 3, 2021 article: American Slavery and Global Capitalism (https://www.midwesternmarx.com/articles/american-slavery-and-global-capitalism-by-edward-liger-smith/ )
Website WTF Happened in 1971 (https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/ )
Link to Greg's blog: ZZs Blog (http://zzs...
2022-08-191h 00Coming From Left Field (Audio)The Political Economy of Mental Health Systems with Joanna MoncrieffOur guest today, psychiatrist Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, has created quite a buzz with her recent journal article that capsized the brain chemistry imbalance hypothesis of depression. The article is scientifically sound and well respected by her peers; however, it is a threat to the big pharma industry and other narratives regarding the individual defect theory of mental health.
Marx, Spinoza, and the Political Implications of Contemporary Psychiatry | CounterPunch by Bruce Levine | June 7, 2022
The Political Economy of the Mental Health System: A Marxist Analysis | Frontiers in Sociology by Joanna Moncrieff | Jan 17, 2022
The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella...
2022-08-0449 minComing From Left Field (Audio)“Jazz and Justice: Racism and the Political Economy of the Music” with Gerald HorneOne of our favorite guests, Dr. Gerald Horne, joins us today to discuss his book, “Jazz and Justice: Racism and the Political Economy of the Music.” A remarkable scholar discusses the history of jazz, “the story of a beautiful lotus, growing from the filth of the crassest form of human immiseration.”
Order the book: https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9781583677858
Link to Greg's blog (ZZs Blog): http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
Spotify Playlists Jazz Musicians by Location
New Orleans: https://spoti.fi/3Is9AXs
Kansas City: https://spoti.fi/3uA7jn4
St...
2022-07-081h 04Coming From Left Field (Audio)“The Killer’s Henchman: Capitalism and the Covid-19 Disaster” with Stephen GowansToday we talk with Stephen Gowans, a political analyst, and writer who shows how capitalism, its incentives, and its power dominate the political process and impeded the protection of public health.
Order the book, “The Killer's Henchman: Capitalism and the Covid-19 Disaster”
Link to Stephen’s blog (What's Left): https://gowans.blog/
Link to Greg's blog (ZZs Blog): http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
#StephenGowans
#Gowans
#KillersHenchman
#The Killer'sHenchman
#COVID
#CovidDisaster
#WhatsLeft
#CapitalismCovid
#Gr...
2022-07-0656 minComing From Left Field (Audio)Starbucks Workers United with Angel KrempaToday we talk with Angel Krempa, a former Starbucks shift supervisor in Buffalo, New York, who was fired in retaliation for organizing one of the first successful unionization efforts against the coffee giant. In 2020, not a single one of the company's 9,000 stores had a union. In the past few months, more than 150 Starbucks voted to unionize, and the corporate overlords are not happy.
Link to Greg's blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/
#AngelKrempa
#Starbucks
#Worker Unitied
#HowardSchultz
#RossannWilliams
#Union
#GregGodels
...
2022-06-2251 minComing From Left Field (Audio)”The Last Negroes at Harvard” with Kent Garrett and Jeanne EllsworthToday, we welcomed Kent Garrett and Jeanne Ellsworth to discuss their book, " The Last Negroes at Harvard," a story of 18 remarkable Black men admitted to Harvard’s class of 1963. The book is equal parts memoir, group biography, and history of a turbulent civil rights era.
Book: The Last Negroes at Harvard (2020)
https://thelastnegroesatharvard.com/
Podcast: available on Spotify and Apple Podcast
Link to Greg's blog :
ZZs Blog
#KentGarrett
#JeanneEllsworth
#LastNegroesatHarvard
#Classof1963
#Harvard
#Civ...
2022-06-1556 minComing From Left Field (Audio)”The Heart of Caring: Reflections from a life lived in medicine” with Mark VonnegutToday, we welcomed Dr. Mark Vonnegut to discuss his book, "The Heart of Caring: Reflections from a life lived in medicine." Dr. Vonnegut, son of writer Kurt Vonnegut, has practiced pediatrics for the last forty years. We discuss the crisis in the health care system and how for-profit influences are harming the mission of helping patients.
Books:
The Heart of Caring: Reflections from a life lived in medicine (2022)
Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More So: A Memoir (2011)
The Eden Express: A Memoir of Insanity (1975)
Link to...
2022-06-0148 min