Town & Country

Town was out and about in London last week to help Catherine Liu promote her latest book, Traumatized: The New Politics of Public Suffering. Order now! And don’t miss out on upcoming events.

This week we covered UPS’s upcoming contract fight. Country updates us on his journey as a steward and potential reformist. Plus, we chat about one of Country’s… interesting ideas for mobilizing the most.

We took off last week because Country’s drag queen boyfriend had a Robyn pre-party show to run. And also because Labor Day should be Labor Week. Or Month? Honestly, Labor Indefinite Sabbatical sounds about right…

This week we’re talking about how to revive our unions and what that means for the broader movement. We focus on a recent Confronting Capitalism podcast as well as some NALC drama. We also discuss Claire Stapleton’s new book, Don’t Be Evil, including some dishing on a recent Zoom panel featuring Claire and the authors of Against Tech Oligarchy. We also hear an update on Country’s cat, Bosie (named after Oscar Wilde’s gay boyfriend. [Redundant? Yes, a little]).

‘Til next time 🐭

Articles and interviews discussed:

Confronting Capitalism Podcast: Labor Needs Socialists and Socialists Need Labor

Letter Carriers Set to Deliver Change in Upcoming Union Election

This week we covered a lot of ground answering the perennial question that strikes fear in the hearts and minds of the Gray Lady and her dearest friends: what is the working class? Thanks to a listener recommendation, we reacted to a recent NPR segment on the economic meaning of “working class” and reflected on the stubbornness of cultural and intersectional views of class politics. Finally, Country recounts his time as a Catholic scene kid, finding church again, and what that means for building something new—even at work.

Articles and interviews discussed:

Who Really Counts as Working Class

What Is Class?

The Last Identity

Starbucks Workers Are Calling for a Nationwide Boycott

It’s week two of Town and Country’s media blitz that has gripped the nation! We may be freshmen at Podcast University, but we’re also Millennial non-trads with a few insights into the state of the American union. Drink every time you hear an “um”!

We cover the things at the top of everyone’s mind: Why does the professional-managerial class talk like that? How does this harm the left’s project of relinking with working people? How does good messaging work in union organizing? What are the priorities for white- and blue-collar organizers? How is Country’s cat Bosie doing?

Articles discussed:

What's Wrong With the American Left: Captured by the Professional Class

The Left Has a Language Problem

The dislocation between the PMC and the rest of the working class

On the Origins of the Professional-Managerial Class

‘Til next time! 🐁

As promised: the inaugural episode of our weekly podcast in which we introduce ourselves, tell our backstories, and hem and haw about what we’re seeing in our white- and blue-collar workplaces, unions, and everything else shaping the American working class. I hope you’ll forgive us as we learn the ropes for this format; I like to think that we’re both fine public speakers, but that kind of experience doesn’t necessarily transfer to podcasting. It’ll take us a few laps. You understand!

See you next week.