With the defeat of the Cuomontang by General Maomdani, we will achieve socialism in one city, New York City that is, any day now. As a light of the world, New York will become a glorious people's republic. But not all socialists are on board. Joining us is Ken from Firebrand to discuss his article on why Zohran Mamdani is not a socialist, but an opportunist, a populist, representing a general trend we need to be wary of in the ongoing struggle against the Democratic Party, Trump, and capitalism.

https://firebrand.red/2025/07/mamdani-the-dsa-and-the-reactionary-gravity-of-the-democrats/

https://firebrand.red/2025/06/should-socialists-support-zohran-mamdani/

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/06/26/ovnc-j26.html

https://marxist.com/united-states-zohran-mamdani-stuns-establishment-is-this-a-step-toward-a-socialist-nyc.htm

We don't have much planned in this episode, just sharing our thoughts on the incredibly half assed attempts to manufacture consent over WMDs, nukes and Iran, as if we haven't heard them a billion times before. We barely get through the episode without bringing up the ACP in the end, because they are trash and deserve to be dunked on for supporting Trump as the so-called "peace" candidate.

Ashley Rogers of the Independent Socialist Group joins us to discuss mass protest and movements, and the need for the LGBTQ liberation movement to regain control of Pride as a protest and not a corporate sponsored parade. An injury to one is an injury to all, and every mass movement must unite along class lines to stop Trumps MAGA agenda and build for a better future.

As we sat down to record, Israel decides to strike Iran. Blows have been exchanged back and forth, we had very little information at the time of recording. Tune in next week for a discussion on that! In the mean time, here are our thoughts on the ICE raids in LA, the resistance and elevation of the workers and students on the ground defending their communities, the Madleen flotilla and Greta Thunberg, and we express our solidarity with the PSL against the McCarthyite witch hunt. Lastly we weigh in on the Zohran Mamdani race against Cuomo.

Sources for this week's episode:

https://communistusa.org/why-communists-cant-support-zohran-mamdani

https://marxist.com/freedom-flotilla-abduction-sparks-mass-anger.htmhttps://www.leftvoice.org/hands-off-our-unions-defend-david-huerta-and-unite-the-fight-against-ice/

https://www.leftvoice.org/ice-raids-in-los-angeles-state-brutality-popular-resistance-and-class-struggle/

https://marxist.com/ice-out-of-la-workers-defend-themselves-against-trump-s-raids.htm

Ben and Chris get together and discuss the USA's ticking time bomb of national debt. Contrary to what some on the Left might think, national debt is actually very real and sooner or later the bill comes due. The question is who pays the tab?

Tristan from Left Voice, Mark from Firebrand and Angus from the Independent Socialist Group join us to discuss whether or not Russia is an imperialist power and what it might mean for the international working class.

Closing song by our comrade Joe Messina, RadicalizeMe on youtube. "Lenin". Check it out here. https://youtu.be/Y74e3XdYLf0?si=6CG5dZNQcvLYixkR

https://www.leftvoice.org/no-to-the-war-russian-troops-out-of-ukraine-nato-out-of-eastern-europe-no-to-imperialist-rearmament/

https://independentsocialistgroup.org/2022/03/02/imperialist-powers-clash-over-ukraine/

https://firebrand.red/2023/06/no-u-s-nato-arms-to-ukraine/

Chris and his letter carrier comrades discuss their campaign to keep the post office public. Check out their podcast

https://www.youtube.com/@BuildaFightingNALC

Jeff Booth and Peggy from the ISG join us to discuss May Day 2025, talk about the attendance at the Boston rally, comparing the class struggle from previous years and what keeps us going as Marxists in these grim times.

https://independentsocialistgroup.org/2025/04/29/may-day-2025-fight-trump-build-for-mass-strikes-and-a-workers-party/

Closing Song: Spanish Bombs by the Clash (1979) (f u spotify for making me delete this song)