Workers' Lit

We’re gonna shoot straight: we had a guest drop out a few hours before we recorded. So we made the best of it, turned on our webcams, and talked about…everything.

The MET Gala, Cuba, King of the Hill, Final Fantasy, the Supreme Court, Iran, Being Gay. All of it.

We decided to make a video episode out of this, which you can watch on our Youtube. If you want more video episodes of us chatting (and answering your questions!) go support us on Patreon!

patreon.com/cw/WorkersLit

What if you were a giant mosquito in a climate hell future, and the mosquito was trans, and the trans mosquito destroyed the stock market and also a school bully, and the school bully possessed a VR headset that allowed him to be the guy that runs the stock market, and the guy that runs the stock market is responsible for your mosquito-fication, so you have to confront him as you bring about a new mosquito-themed age of the earth?

Welcome to Michel Nieva’s 2025 novel, “Dengue Boy,” translated by Rahul Bery.

Joining us to dive into this strange and rich text is author of “The Saint of Bright Doors” and “Rakesfall,” Vajra Chandrasekara. Together we will unpack just what it means to confront your inner trans revolutionary mosquito as the world burns.

Learn more about Vajra’s work and buy his books here!

We have a Patreon! Sign up to support us and get cool bonus content here!

It’s time for more BONUS CONTENT!

We are joined by host of the “Lions Led By Donkeys” podcast, Joe Kassabian, to discuss his upcoming gunpowder fantasy novel, “The Highlands Burn.”

What is gunpowder fantasy? Where are all the Armenians in sword and sorcery? How do you build an interesting magic system? All this and more in this fantastic interview!

Pre-order “The Highlands Burn”

Listen to Lions Led By Donkeys

Become a Workers’ Lit patron!

Sure, we have our beefs with the internet, but did you know a lot of powerful people are working extremely hard to make the internet even worse?

On today’s episode Cameron, aka Much Like Your Posting joins us to discuss efforts to repeal internet protection law Section 230 and other attempts at online censorship.

It’s a tricky issue, but that’s never stopped us from yapping before!

Check out MLYP’s work!

Become a Workers’ Lit Patron!

Sources:

https://www.eff.org/issues/cda230

https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2025/12/graham-leads-bill-to-sunset-section-230-immunity-protect-americans-online

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3546/cosponsors

We’re back to talk about EVEN MORE QUEER HORROR.

We are joined by brilliant author and returning guest Lee Mandelo to discuss Dolki Min’s 2023 novel, “Walking Practice.” If you’re queer, this book will be highly relatable to you. If you’re a shapeshifting monster from space who eats humans it will also seem familiar. All others will have to imagine.

We discuss the challenges and beauty of translation, the complicated nature of our unreliable bodies, and maybe even trauma dump a little.

Go follow us on Patreon to get access to exclusive content like our April 28th livestream/video episode!

Go learn more about Lee Mandelo and buy his books!!

Sources:

https://m.koreaherald.com/article/3048404

https://www.instagram.com/dolkimin?igsh=MXJlZ3ZjNXRld3dtcA==

After a brief check-in at the top with Tehran Taylor, Jen and Jacob launch into Palantir CEO Alexander Karp's Manifesto, "The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West." More specifically, we look at Palantir's 22 point summary of the text it put out, to a concerning amount of praise from the liberal and conservative establishment alike.

Do you want it?

If by “it” you mean Gretchen Felker-Martin’s 2025 queer horror novel, “Black Flame,” the answer is 100% yes!

We are joined by Jon Greenaway, writer, co-host of the “Horror Vanguard” podcast, and certified gothic literature understander. Together we enter this story about being so horny it warps reality, trauma-haunted art, supernatural resistance against patriarchal violence, and Rodney Dangerfield.

Go follow us on Patreon go be blessed beyond your wildest imagination

Guest plugs:

Check out Horror Vanguard here or wherever you get your podcasts!

Check out Jon’s blog here!

Buy Jon’s book “Capitalism, a Horror Story.”

And follow Jon @thelitcritguy.bsky.social

War propaganda has always been strange...

But now it's got Wii Sports and Legos in it.

Caleb of Kill the Computer and 60 Minute Drill joins us to talk about the "meme war" that has raged parallel to the Iran war.

First we check out the White House's slop: warning, not for the faint of heart. Then we look at Explosive Media, an Iranian-state backed media collective's, use of AI Legos to call Trump, Hegseth, and anyone else they hate every insult under the sun.

What does this mean for the future of communication? What does this mean for the future of war? What does this mean for our own sanity? Find out here.

Want to follow along? Check out this document for links to the various videos we cover.

Check out Caleb's work over at Kill the Computer and 60 Minute Drill.

https://www.patreon.com/cw/killthecomputer

https://www.patreon.com/cw/60MinuteDrill

Also follow him on Bluesky @birdrespecter.bsky.social

News sources linked below:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/white-houses-use-of-internet-memes-to-promote-iran-war-sparks-criticism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUrveflgWhk

https://www.404media.co/iran-is-winning-the-ai-slop-propaganda-war/

What if the Jewish diaspora had established a mini-state in Alaska?

What if Harry DuBois had a gigantic muscle-pal instead of Kim?

What is the Messiah was gay?

All this and more is addressed in Michael Chabon’s 2007 alternate history novel, “The Yiddish Policeman’s Union.”

On top of being some darn good genre fiction, this book takes a hard and unique look at U.S. empire and its relationship to Zionism. It’s also a beautiful and fun look at numerous aspects of Jewish culture, which Chabon delights in showing off with remarkable skill…Also it describes some REALLY yummy donuts.

Note: there’s some words in this book we’ve elected not to say as non-Jews, so in the interest of respect we’ve bleeped those when we read passages out loud.

Links to articles/topics referenced in this episode:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yiddish_Policemen%27s_Union

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/avi-shlaim-proof-israel-zionist-involvement-iraq-jews-attacks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavon_Affair

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/somebodys-protest-novel/

Folks, we regret to inform you that the internet has kind of become...important.

Today we are joined by Anthony DePice, activist, movement cheerleader, and digital organizer to talk about the wide, wonderful, horrid world of social media. We talk some (and laugh more) about various platforms, their highs and lows, and how people pursuing liberation can make our intervention on the web (hopefully without killing each other while we're at it).

Also, we talk about the online right and left more broadly. Fun times.

Check out Anthony on Instagram and other social media sites:

https://www.instagram.com/j.anthony.depice/

Check us out on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/WorkersLit

Sources for today's discussion:

https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/news-platform-fact-sheet/

https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2010/compendia/statab/130ed/tables/11s1134.pdf

https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/newspapers/

https://www.georgetown.edu/news/ask-a-professor-renee-diresta-how-social-media-can-shape-public-opinion/