Diet Soap Podcast

What is American conservatism, and how should socialists understand it? In this interview, Wyatt Verlen offers a historical overview of conservatism in the United States, from the Bourbon Democrats and Robert Taft to William F. Buckley and the rise of the New Right. We explore how conservatism evolved in response to the Progressive Era, the New Deal, and the Cold War, and examine the role of political machines, laissez-faire ideology, and anti-communism in shaping the American right. This is a conversation about history, ideology, and strategy through a socialist lens.

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Stanley Sharpey is a writer and a socialist living in London. His essay for Sublation Magazine, "The Discreet Charm of the PMC" explains the history of the term and ends up sympathizing with the Ehrenreichs given the political dilemma they faced in the 1970s.

The Discreet Charm of the PMC at Sublation Magazine
https://www.sublationmag.com/post/the-discreet-charm-of-the-pmc
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In this episode of the CutroneZone, we dive deep into Chris Cutrone’s essay "On Philosophy and Marxism: Response to Suther and Velissaris"—a characteristically sharp and mournful defense of the dialectic against the return to philosophy. As always, Cutrone’s critique is uncompromising, clear, provocative, and melancholic.

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Philip Cunliffe discusses his recent essay at COMPACT entitled "How Trump Won the Canadian Election." He explains what constitutes sovereignty, why sovereignty is necessary for democracy, and why Trump turned Canada away from cosmopolitan internationalism and towards patriotic nationalism.

Philip Cunliffe at Compact
https://www.compactmag.com/article/how-trump-won-the-canadian-election/

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Ashley Frawley is senior editor of Compact. She is the author of two books, Semiotics of Happiness: Rhetorical Beginnings of a Public Problem and Significant Emotions: Rhetoric and Social Problems in a Vulnerable Age. Her writing has appeared in UnHerd, and the New Statesman. She is also the former co-host of Sublation Magazine and in this episode she returns to discuss her latest essay in Compact.

How Society Got a Sex Change by Ashley Frawley
https://www.compactmag.com/contributor/ashley-frawley/

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In this episode of the Cutronezone, the Last Marxist discusses his latest essay for Sublation Magazine and speculates on why COMPACT magazine rejected it for publication. How is it that established opinion is incapable of taking up and thinking through the significance of Trump's Tariffs?

Read Cutrone's Essay "Fear" in Sublation Magazine:
https://www.sublationmag.com/post/fear-itself

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Wyatt Verlen's essay in Sublation Magazine instructs the left to quit complaining and start critiquing.
History gave Trump a right. As of the moment of writing, this right continues to be denied to him. That right is the right to be critiqued."

Read the new Sublation Essay by Wyatt Verlen:
https://www.sublationmag.com/post/the-right-to-a-critique

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Hamilton Craig is a Compact columnist and a doctoral student at CUNY researching farmers’ movements in the United States. In this episode of Diet Soap, he discusses his recent essay for Compact entitled "The Democratic Promise of Manifest Destiny" with Douglas Lain and tries to consider just how seriously to take Trump's effort to revitalize and reinvent our Manifest Destiny and discuss Cutrone's essay "The Future Belongs to America. So Should Greenland."

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"The Democratic Promise of Manifest Destiny" - Hamilton Craig
https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-democratic-promise-of-manifest-destiny/

Chris Cutrone and Douglas Lain discuss the meaning of the term "neoliberalism" and the ignominious end of the previous regime of accumulation. Cutrone takes Studebaker to task over their differences in conceptualizing neoliberalism, highlighting contrasting interpretations of its historical and ideological implications.

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David Shields, author of "How We Got Here," returns to discuss how Trump has destroyed our reality and how our sensemaking institutions are in crisis. How can we educate ourselves and get a grip on the world if everything is FAKE NEWS?

Get a copy of Shield's book "How We Got Here"
https://sublationmedia.com/product/how-we-got-here-melville-plus-nietzsche-divided-by-the-square-root-of-allan-bloom-times-zizek-squared-equals-bannon-by-david-shields/

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Chris Cutrone assuages Douglas Lain's fears as they survey the wreckage of Trump's first 50 days in office. Is Trump an amateur just throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks? Yes? Is he a world historic figure who aims to rearrange the world order? Yes again?

Watch the second half of this podcast on Patreon, and join a Zoom call afterparty conversation with other socialists and thinkers.
https://pareon.com/dietsoap

Chris Cutrone's "Marxism and Politics" was paused for a time as we made some revisions to the text. It is available again now:
https://sublationmedia.com/product/marxism-and-politics-essays-on-critical-theory-and-the-party-2006-2024/

Zaid Jilani joins Douglas Lain to discuss his two recent articles for Compact:

The Democrats’ RFK Dilemma
https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-democrats-rfk-dilemma/
Democrats Should Work with Trump
https://www.compactmag.com/article/democrats-should-work-with-trump/

Patrons are invited to discuss these podcasts by Zoom every week.Support Us on Patreon to join the conversation.
https://patreon.com/dietsoap

This episode of the Sublation Magazine show will attempt to sort through the questions and narratives that are bombarding those of us who are trying to pay attention to the political situation, especially in America. Is Trump a dictator, after all? Is Elon any good with computers? Did Vance make a speech in support of Nazis and Fascists? Are the Democrats rebooting the resistance, and if so, what does that mean for the left?

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This week's Sublaton Magazine stream will include a discussion with Benjamin Studebaker about Elon Musk's takeover of the Federal Government. Are we now entering an era of high-tech feudalism? Do we like the taste of it?

We will also be discussing Rob McCleary's Short Story "Nixon in Space"
https://electricliterature.com/nixon-in-space-rob-mccleary/

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Amid renewed calls for his cancellation, Chris Cutrone addresses his critics about an essay that was to be entitled "Why Not Greenland?" Also discussed: How can we understand this moment without tailing any capitalist party? What about the Labor Theory of Value? And did Fonzie even "jump the shark" in the sense the phrase is usually meant?

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In this episode of Sublation Magazine, we discuss Trump's intention to expand America. Is he trolling? Is he serious? How seriously should we take Chris Cutrone's defense of Trump's plans? Is there a chance for an "Empire of Liberty?" What does it take to be a Marxist (first or last) in the age of Trump?
Also, what is the meaning of a Vanishing Elephant?

Story of the Week:
The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1991/11/18/the-elephant-vanishes

Chris Cutrone's controversial essay at compact:
https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-future-belongs-to-america-so-should-greenland/

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Umut Özkýrýmlý reveals how the Left has been sucked into a spiral of toxic hatred and outrage-mongering, retreating from the democratic ideals of freedom and pluralism that it purports to represent. Exploring the similarities between right-wing populism and radical identity politics, he sets out an alternative vision. It is only by focusing on our common humanity and working across differences that the Left will find a constructive and consensual way back from "woke".

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Douglas Lain and Chris Cutrone discuss György Lukács' "The Theory of the Novel: A Historico-philosophical Essay on the Forms of Great Epic Literature," which provides Doug an opportunity to reminisce on his long-lost vocation as a novelist.

Link to Lukacs' Theory of the Novel
https://analepsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/georg-lukacs-the-theory-of-the-novel.pdf

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Benjamin Studebaker takes on the co-host role in this first of the new Sublation Magazine streams. In this episode, we'll discuss the idea of the pseudo-event, the assassination of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, and the meaning of the East Coast drone invasion while also covering Toby Green and Thomas Fazi's essay for Sublation Magazine entitled: "A Victory for the Covid Policy Skeptics?" Is Neofeudalism ending, or is it merely rebranding? We will also discuss Donald Barthleme's short story, "Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby."

Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby
https://www.jessamyn.com/barth/colby.html

A Victory for Covid Policy Skeptics essay:
https://www.sublationmag.com/post/a-victory-for-covid-policy-skeptics

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Phil Illy is the author of the book "Autoheterosexual: Attracted to Being the Other Sex" and in this week's podcast, he discusses the theory that the transgender phenomenon is best understood through the lens of human sexuality. He argues that by covering up what he calls "autoheterosexuality" the culture is harming trans people.

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The Sublation Magazine Show will be moving to Mondays starting on the 16th of December as we transition from the era of Ashley Frawley and welcome Benjamin Studebaker as the new co-host.
In this Tuesday transition episode, Spencer Leonard and Doug will discuss the ideas of Henryk Grossman, the Marxist radical who believed that capitalism would eventually lead to a terminal crisis.

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Chris Cutrone discusses his essay from Marxism and Politics entitled "The mass psychology of capitalist politics" as well as his essay "Critical authoritarianism." We are all living with the fear of freedom and this leads us to embrace authoritarian solutions to political and social problems.

Buy Chris's Book:
https://sublationmedia.com/product/marxism-and-politics-essays-on-critical-theory-and-the-party-2006-2024/

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In seven days, America will choose between Fascism and Joy, but how do we know which is which? David Shields joins Douglas Lain and Ashley Frawley to discuss how the Democrats are making their closing arguments against Trump. (And we introduce the return of Sublation Magazine on its own website.)

Watch the second hour on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/posts/parroting-chaos-114941879

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Fabio Vighi is a professor of Italian and Critical Theory at Cardiff University and the author of the upcoming book "Emergency Capitalism" coming from Sublation in December. In this episode of Emergency Capitalism, Fabio discusses when and why paranoia can be rational, why de-dollarization is on the horizon, and how the mass production of wealth leads to poverty under capitalism.

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Chris Cutrone and Douglas Lain discuss an essay from Cutrone's book "Marxism and Politics." The article is entitled "Chinoiserie: A Critique of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA’s 'New Synthesis.'" In this episode of the Cutrone Zone Chris explains just why the 2010 "communist turn" was a repeat of the failure of the New Left even as it was a regression from the New Left into counterrevolutionary reaction.

Purchase Marxism and Politics
https://sublationmedia.com/product/marxism-and-politics-essays-on-critical-theory-and-the-party-2006-2024/

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What does it mean that JD Vance did or did not make love to a couch? Is Kamala Harris mentally impaired? Will Donald Trump be an American dictator? Are the pets of Springfield safe? David Shields, author of "How We Got Here," evaluates the US presidential election.

Purchase "How We Got Here"
https://sublationmedia.com/product/how-we-got-here-melville-plus-nietzsche-divided-by-the-square-root-of-allan-bloom-times-zizek-squared-equals-bannon-by-david-shields/
(discount code: howwegotherediscount)

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Eric Russell is the editor and reader in charge of Sublation's new Historical Socialism audiobook line. In September, we released the first title: "Frederick Lessner-Sixty Years in the Social-Democratic Movement." In this special edition of Diet Soap, Eric and Doug discuss the contemporary left/socialist movement in juxtaposition to the socialist movement that Lessner helped to build.

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Douglas Lain and Fabio Vighi explore Slavoj Žižek's influence on the left, the concept of emergency politics, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Fabio offers a critical perspective on Žižek’s controversial support for NATO, arguing that Žižek misunderstands the true functioning of capitalism. Together, they delve into the contradictions and complexities of Žižek’s stance, questioning the role of intellectuals in shaping leftist politics amidst global crises. This conversation challenges mainstream narratives and digs deep into the philosophical and political underpinnings of our time.

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Fabio Vighi discusses how the current proxy wars are being used by the capitalist class to prop up a dying capitalist world order. He also discusses how the Ukrainian conflict is decimating Europe rather than Russia.
(No Russian money was procured or involved in the production of this video, but we are open to negotiating with Russian Nationals as long as we are allowed to register the funds through customs.)

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Chris Cutrone and Jack Ross join Douglas Lain to discuss the political realignment occurring through the 2024 election. Chris Cutrone is the author of Marxism and Politics, and Jack Ross is the author of The Strange Death of American Exceptionalism.

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Marxism and Politics
https://sublationmedia.com/product/marxism-and-politics-essays-on-critical-theory-and-the-party-2006-2024/

The Strange Death of American Exceptionalism
https://sublationmedia.com/product/the-strange-death-of-american-exceptionalism/

The defeat of the anti-imperialist Free Palestine Left and the rise of MAGA Communism is the topic for this week's Sublation Magazine Show. We will also discuss Benjamin Studebaker's "Critique of the Critique of the Administrative State."

Join Us for a Second Hour on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/posts/parroting-maga-109584292

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Benjamin Studebaker discusses his essay for the Platypus Review entitled: "Beyond Bonapartism: Breaking statephobic thought taboos." Doug was triggered by his essay and attempts to counter the argument, to little effect. Is the subject of history dead along with the left?

Benjamin's Essay:
https://platypus1917.org/category/platypus-review-authors/benjamin-studebaker-platypus-review-authors/

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Ashley and Doug discuss the new Stalinist/MAGA Communist anti-imperialism. Without condemnation or presuming that the anti-imperialists are acting in bad faith, but with the aim of understanding the ideological moment we are in, this stream will take a look at some clips from videos from Infrared, Caleb Maupin, and Peter Coffin.

Join Us for a Second Hour on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/posts/106007137?pr=true

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Chris Cutrone returns to discuss the reaction to his essay "The Alternative to Genocide" and to discuss how and why leftists are, in reality, right-wing.

BUY MARXISM AND POLITICS by Chris Cutrone
https://sublationmedia.com/product/marxism-and-politics-essays-on-critical-theory-and-the-party-2006-2024/

Listen to the Second Hour on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/posts/how-left-became-104860372

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Ben Burgis and Djene Bajalan join Douglas Lain to discuss the War on Disinformation, and to resolve an argument that broke out on the Diet Soap 15 hour anniversary livestream.
Should be hope that social media companies become the fully recognized property of the state, how concerned should we be about the war on disinformation, and how should socialists understand and relate to the Capitalist State?

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Fabio Vighi discusses his upcoming book "Emergency Capitalism" and explains how financial capitalism and productive capitalism can't be treated separately but must be understood as united. How the disintegration and irregulatiry in the financial sector is the result of a crisis stemming from production.

Watch the Entire Episode on Rumble
https://rumble.com/v4vtfgh-is-western-finance-to-blame.html

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In this episode of the Sublation Magazine Show Ashley and Doug discuss the Canadian Online Harms Act, a new US presidential election poll, the Strange Death of American Exceptionalism, and the meaning (or lack of meaning) of the pro-Palestinian protests.

Join Us for a Second Hour in the Parrot Room
https://www.patreon.com/posts/104234479

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Ashley Frawley and Douglas Lain discuss Benjamin Studebaker's essay for Sublation Magazine entitled "The Left Cannot Make Use of the Gaza War" and Doug reads the opening remarks he gave at the Platypus panel "From Politics to Protest" last week.

The Left Cannot Make Use of the Gaza War
https://sublationmedia.com/the-left-cannot-make-use-of-the-gaza-war/

Join Us For a Second Hour
https://www.patreon.com/posts/from-politics-to-103343741

Support Sublation Media on Patreon
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