Ep. 49: Calling Out Some B.S. in Progressive Media, Liberal Politicians Throw Abortion & Trans Rights Under the Bus, and More

We begin our show by turning our critical lens towards alternative media that have made some big missteps, looking at how some reactionary ideas have bled into some high-profile lefty outlets.

In the wake of the recent allegations against Russell Brand the World Socialist Web Site quickly published an op-ed coming to their defense. It is part of a larger and bizarre pattern of the WSWS that sees it go from Leon Trotsky to Ben Shapiro at the speed of light when it comes to anything even tangentially related to #MeToo. We ask why an ostensibly Socialist website feels compelled to devote resources to defending bourgeois celebrities from, particularly in Brand's case, very credible allegations.

We then talk about popular lefty YouTuber Jimmy Dore's recent interview with racial justice scholar and presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West. Met with the opportunity to interview such a legendary figure Dore took the opportunity to try and convert West to class reductionism.

From news media to the world of politics we look at a member of the Michigan house who is hamstringing expanding access to abortion resources in the state, and the governor of California who has recently thrown trans people under the bus.

We talk about an article from the Smithsonian that codifies and boosts some critical history about the Nazi oppression of trans people and close our show talking about (now former) Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch's surprise retirement.

 

0:00- 30:20 Russell Brand, WSWS, Jimmy Dore, and Calling Out Reactionary B.S. in Left-Wing Media

 

30:20- 58:00 "Don't Trust the Liberals" Dems in Michigan and California Throw Abortion & Trans Right Under the Bus

 

58:00- 1:04:50 Smithsonian Article Highlights Oppression of Trans People in Nazi Germany

 

1:04:50- 11:11:20 Rupert Murdoch Retires

 

SOURCES/ FURTHER READING

WSWS Coming to the Defense of Bourgeois Predator Russell Brand
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/09/21/ygvq-s21.html

 

Jimmy Dore Abuses Cornel West For Caring About Black People
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCxgSXJhxwg

 

Meet the Democrat blocking Michigan abortion bills. She says she’s not alone
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/meet-democrat-blocking-michigan-abortion-bills-she-says-shes-not-alone

 

“A stunning betrayal” Gavin Newsom vetoes bill protecting trans kids in California
https://www.vpsreports.com/post/a-stunning-betrayal-gavin-newsom-vetoes-bill-protecting-trans-kids

 

Anti-Trans Canadian March Outnumbered By Huge Trans Rights Crowds, Teachers Unions
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/anti-trans-canadian-march-outnumbered

 

New Research Reveals How the Nazis Targeted Transgender People
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/new-research-reveals-how-the-nazis-targeted-transgender-people-180982931/

 

As Rupert Murdoch Resigns from His Right-Wing Media Empire, Will His Son Lachlan Be Even More Extreme?
https://www.democracynow.org/2023/9/22/rupert_murdoch