Midwest Socialist

Midwest Socialist episodes:

• 04.22.2021

  MWS Discusses: Lenin's 'State and Revolution' (Feat. Special Guests)

  On a very special episode, the Midwest Socialist crew is joined by Jake Flores of Pod Damn America and professor Ann Robertson from DSA SF and Red Star SF to discuss the Vladimir Lenin's seminal text 'State and Revolution.' Considered...

  
• 03.11.2021

  Austin from DSA NPC and Co-Host of Machete y Mate

  Matt talked with Austin about his experience on DSA's National Political Committee, the International Committee, his hosting experience on Machete y Mate, and a shared identity over being Puerto Rican in the diaspora. A moving yet informative conversation! Join DSA: www.dsausa.org/join Find...

  
• 03.02.2021

  Brynn Talks With Matthew C. From Democratize ComEd

  This week MWS Producer Brynn is joined by Matthew C. from CDSA's Democratize ComEd campaign to talk about environmentalism in the US, the state of the campaign here in Illinois, and how the snowstorm and power grid failures went down...

  
• 02.23.2021

  Judas and Black Messiah Review with Ramsin and Jasson

  On a special episode Matt is joined by Ramsin and Jasson from CDSA to discuss the new film 'Judas and the Black Messiah', Fred Hampton, and the legacy of organizing from the Black Panthers to today. Follow Midwest Socialist on Twitter:...

  
• 02.08.2021

  Conversation with Sean Duffy about Organizing in CDSA

  Sean Duffy talked with Matt about what they have experienced and learned from being a CDSA member to holding an elected position in the chapter. They also talk about the importance of not taking any shortcuts in our organizing work...

  
• 02.02.2021

  SPECIAL EPISODE: Teach-In on Yemen

  We have a special episode this week! We have uploaded the audio from a recent teach-in hosted by Chicago DSA regarding the ongoing war in Yemen. This was a part of a national DSA action in coordination with chapters across...

  
• 01.29.2021

  Sex Work Decriminalization (Hosted by Ali ft. Sasha and Whitney)

  This week, Midwest Socialist Podcast producer Ali hosts Sasha and Whitney from the Chicago chapter of Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA. Learn how the struggle for the decriminalization of sex work and the fight to restore human rights for sex workers...

  
• 01.19.2021

  Interview with Kirsten and Dennis from Chicago Teachers Union

  In a special episode Matt sits down with Kirsten, a teacher, and Dennis, a nurse, from Chicago Public School to discuss the city's attempts at school reopenings in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. They discuss the tremendous impact...

  
• 01.18.2021

  Interview with Anais from Left Out Mag

  Matt talks with Anais from Left Out Mag to talk socialist publications in a new era and giving a platform to black leftist writers. Plus, they talk about the capitol thing. Follow Left Out Mag on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeftOutMag Follow Anais on Twitter:...

  
• 01.04.2021

  Interview with Deputy Editor of Jacobin Micah Uetricht (feat. MWS Pod Producer Brynn)

  Midwest Socialist Pod Producer Brynn sat down with Jacobin's Micah Uetricht to help us usher in the new year! They talk about his book and the state of the left today. Follow Micah on twitter @micahuetricht

  
• 12.16.2020

  Interview with Vicko

  This week Matt talks with Vicko from the South Side Steering Committee of CDSA and AFROSoC about the recent mutual aid efforts of CDSA and what the future holds. The next event will be 12/20/2020 and you can donate here: http://bit.ly/CDSAmutualaid

  
• 12.10.2020

  Interview with Jasson from CDSA and AfroSOC

  On this episode we talk with Jasson from Chicago DSA's Defund Campaign and AfroSOC to talk about anti-racist, abolitionist, and coalition building organizing. For a link to Jasson's original thread click here: https://twitter.com/IolaElla/status/1330923402098581506?s=20

  
• 12.04.2020

  Conversation With Producer Ali C.

  This week Matt sat down with Midwest Socialist producer Ali C. to talk gender, socialism, and the future of the Socialist Feminist Working Group in CDSA!

  
• 12.04.2020

  Interview with Carlos E.

  Matt T. and Carlos E. discuss a piece of theory and history from the past! They look at a classic pamphlet from the Bay Area Socialist Organizing Committee, published in 1981, 'Confronting Reality/Learning from the History of Our Movement' Find the...

  
• 12.04.2020

  Interview with Sveta S.

  Matt talks with Chicago DSA's Political Education Coordinator Sveta S. on the importance of education in our organizing.

  
• 12.04.2020

  Mal And Max Talk Chicago 7

  Surprise episode! CDSA Comrades Mal and Max came on the pod to review Aaron Sorkin's new film 'Trial of the Chicago 7'

  
• 12.04.2020

  interview with Jake Flores and T.

  Matt wraps up the two part election special with Jake Flores from Pod Damn America and T from Machete y Mate to talk the election cycle so far, and more importantly what this election means for Latin America and what...

  
• 12.04.2020

  On The Question Of A Lesser Evil ft. Tara Reade

  Content Warning: Sexual Assault --- On this episode of the Midwest Socialist Podcast, Tara Reade gives a statement on her experience and feelings going into the elections, what her story as a sexual assault survivor still means to this day, and why...

  
• 12.04.2020

  Angela J. Interview

  Matt is talkin' theory with Angela from CDSA

  
• 10.10.2020

  Interview with Ramsin Canon

  Matt talks with Chicago comrade Ramsin Canon.

  
• 10.05.2020

  Margo and Joel from 48th Ward Neighbors for Justice

  Matt talks with Margo and Joel from Chicago's 48th Ward Neighbors for Justice to talk local organizing and the future of north side grassroots politics.

  
• 10.01.2020

  Radhika & Obed Interview

  This week Matt speaks with Obed and Radhika from Chicago South Asians for Justice to speak about the South Asian diaspora, anti-caste activism, and how leftists can learn from this work. For more information on resources shared in the episode, check...

  
• 09.25.2020

  Brandyn B. Interview - 9 14 20, 3.22 PM

  This week, Matt talks with outgoing Metro-Atlanta DSA chair and co-host of the Not Safe For Wonks podcast, Brandyn B. They talk about national solidarity and the future of DSA at the local and national level.

  
• 09.19.2020

  007 - Robin P.

  Matt sits down with Robin P., co-chair of Chicago DSA about her recent article at MidwestSocialist.com (https://midwestsocialist.com/2020/08/28/were-comrades-not-coworkers/) about comradeship and taking care of each other in a socialist organization.

  
• 09.15.2020

  006 - Tom Wojcik- Optimistic Communist

  DSA International Committee member Tom Wojcik talks to Matt about the ways his politics help him navigate these challenging times and what we have to be hopeful about.

  
• 08.26.2020

  Midwest Socialist - 005 - Frankee

  Matt checks in with his friend Frankee who is in Poland and gives us an update on what's happening there and in Belarus.

  
• 08.24.2020

  Midwest Socialist - 004 - Sarah Hurd

  This week we have Sarah Hurd back on the show to talk organizing during COVID and her experiences from this past year.

  
• 08.14.2020

  Midwest Socialist - 003 - Ivy

  ‪This week @tapia288 sat down with @abid_ivy to talk about tenant union organizing in Chicago. Follow http://findmylandlord.chicagodsa.org to learn more!‬

  
• 08.07.2020

  Midwest Socialist - 002 Kenzo Shibata

  This week Matt T. sat down with Kenzo Shibata (@KenzoShibata) host of Class Time Pod (@ClassTimePod) and on YouTube at Class Time with Kenzo Shibata.to discuss his path to leftism, the legacy of the leftist movement over the past 20...

  
• 07.30.2020

  Midwest Socialist - 001 Aaron T.

  This week, Matt T. (@tapia288) spoke with Aaron T. (@posadist_trpgd) host of The Vanguard Army Podcast (@VanguardArmyPod). Episode produced by The Casual Comrade with help from Sarah H. Be sure to subscribe!

  
• 03.09.2020

  Struggle is a Universal Language: an Interview with Anthony Clark

  Illinois primary elections are March 17th, one week from tomorrow, and early voting is happening NOW! In this episode, our host Dave Byrnes sat down with Anthony Clark, a democratic socialist candidate running for the U.S. House of representatives in...

  
• 02.22.2020

  American Socialists Live!

  Socialism is often framed as a foreign ideology, but the United States has its own history of socialist movements. Sarah Hurd, host of the Midwest Socialist Podcast, talks to two authors about their explorations of socialism and American identity. Paul Buhle...

  
• 10.02.2019

  Public Power: Taking Back Our Energy Future

  Chicago DSA has launched its chapter campaign to Democratize ComEd, Chicago's investor-owned "public" power distribution utility. In this episode, Sarah sat down with two Chicago DSA organizers, Sean Estelle and Sveta Stoytcheva, as well as Timothy Denherder-Thomas from Cooperative Energy...

  
• 06.17.2019

  Free Heartland Kids

  The images of kids in cages shocked people across the country, but many Chicagoans don't realize that there are child detention facilities in their own backyard. We talked to CDSA organizers Dan and Sarah about their efforts to shame local...

  
• 05.29.2019

  Running the Socialist Campaign

  You may have heard the news by now. Chicagoans just elected 6 members of Democratic Socialist of America to their City Council. I sat down with four Chicago DSA organizers who worked on the campaigns of some of our recently...

  
• 02.24.2019

  Miles Kampf-Lassin on Chicago's Political Revolution

  Within the global movement of working people pushing back against the forces of austerity and neoliberalism, Chicago is an important battle ground. It has become the poster child for corrupt politics and gun violence but also boasts powerful histories of...

  
• 02.11.2019

  40th Ward Aldermanic Candidate Ugo Okere (Midwest Socialist Live)

  At our Midwest Socialist Live Aldermanic Candidate Forum we talked to 40th Ward aldermanic candidate Ugo Okere about his background in social work, the role of alderman as “organizer and chief” of the ward, and his work to make ...

  
• 02.11.2019

  33rd Ward Aldermanic Candidate Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (Midwest Socialist Live)

  At our Midwest Socialist Live Aldermanic Candidate Forum we talked to 33rd Ward aldermanic candidate Rossana Rodriguez about canvassing until her feet go numb, comparisons to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, her own displacement from her home and how we create real public...

  
• 02.11.2019

  35th Ward Alderman Carlos Rosa (Midwest Socialist Live)

  At our Midwest Socialist Live Aldermanic Candidate Forum we talked to 35th Ward Alderman Carlos Rosa about being a local left celebrity, the War on Christmas and his endorsement of Toni Preckwinkle for Mayor of Chicago.

  
• 02.11.2019

  25th Ward Aldermanic Candidate Byron Sigcho-Lopez (Midwest Socialist Live)

  At our Midwest Socialist Live Aldermanic Candidate Forum we talked to 25th Ward aldermanic candidate Byron Sigcho-Lopez about the current alderman’s misdeeds, why we need more activists in city hall and the similarities he has seen between working class people...

  
• 01.31.2019

  Praise the (land)Lord

  In the state of Illinois, it is illegal to institute rent control but recently Chicago voters have repeatedly expressed their support for lifting that ban. On this week’s episode of the podcast we spoke to Simone, a landlord and lifelong Chicagoan,...

  
• 01.11.2019

  Let's Talk to Our Friends About Abortion

  Abortion can feel like a taboo topic, but it's one we can't avoid discussing. On this episode we spoke to Chicago activists Laura and Lena about the history of reproductive rights in America and challenged them to respond to...

  
• 10.31.2018

  Sewer Socialism

  Sarah sits down with candidate for Municipal Water Reclamation District board seat candidate, and her celebrity crush, Geoffrey Cubbage. He tells her all about why you should care about our sewers and why you should stop being so mean to...

  
• 10.27.2018

  Going to College

  Sarah spoke to Lynn Meissner, a PhD student at Northwestern's school of Education and Social Policy. Their research focuses on high schooler's transition to college and how to apply sociological data to school systems. She discusses issues facing the Chicago...

  
• 10.03.2018

  Salvador Allende

  Sarah Hurd talks to Marianela D'Aprile about a translation she did of a speech by Chile's first Marxist President, Salvadore Allende. They discuss the historic election of Allende in 1970, his violent overthrow by CIA backed forces in 1973 and...

  
• 09.13.2018

  Gentrification

  Sarah spoke to Jose Requena and Loreen Targos of Pilsen Alliance about what gentrification is and what their organization is doing to push it back. We discuss the Illinois ban on rent control, affordable housing and what needs to shift...

  
• 09.06.2018

  The Solidarity Economy

  Sarah sits down with three leaders of Chicago's blossoming cooperative economy: Renee Hatcher - Director of the Business Enterprise Law Clinic at John Marshall Law School, Mike Strode of the Kola Nut Collaborative and Termaine Davis of Together Systems. What...

  
• 08.29.2018

  Joanna Was There - 1968

  This week marked the 50th anniversary of the protests at the 1968 Democratic National convention in Chicago. Jacobin editor Micah Uetricht interviewed longtime leftist activist Joanna Misnik about her experience organizing in 1968 and in the years the followed. Misnik...

  
• 08.23.2018

  Sentimental Re-education

  Sarah and André talk to Chicago DSA Political Education coordinator Ramsin Canon and co-host of the "Season of the Bitch" podcast Ambria Taylor about what Marxism means in our modern time. We define/talk about what terms like "alienation" and...

  
• 08.15.2018

  Black Lives Matter

  On this episode of the Midwest Socialist Podcast Akele and Sarah talk to Black Lives Matter activist Maria Hernandez and Dorothy Holmes, whose son Ronald "Ronnieman" Johnson was killed by a Chicago police officer. We discuss the Justice for Ronnieman...