Featuring: Brian Denning, co-chair Portland DSA, Teamster rank-and-file

In the U.S. labor movement, three names tend to get thrown around as the vanguard of a new upsurge of militancy: the AFA's Sara Nelson, the UAW's Shawn Fain, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters' Sean O'Brien. These union presidents have leaned into a confrontational approach to class struggle, including innovative strike strategy, calls for a general strike, new organizing at strategic companies, and even an inspiring strike for Palestine.

But lately, it has seemed like one of these union leaders is not like the others: Sean O'Brien. The IBT President has donated to anti-worker Republicans like Senator Josh Hawley and, perhaps most remarkably, will speak at the Republican National Convention next week. How should rank-and-file unionists and socialists understand and respond to O'Brien -- supposedly one of our own -- making nice with proto-fascists?

To understand that, I wanted to talk with Brian Denning. Brian is the co-chair of the Portland (OR) DSA and a rank-and-file Teamster. He's a phenomenal political thinker who understands how and why to connect our struggles across sectors and borders. He and I had the chance to connect a few weeks ago, in late June. For more from Brian, checkout his terrific podcast, Sunder: https://open.spotify.com/show/76lvVE3hhWM9AQ6MfbjpTN

I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Intro Music: Pledge Drive