The Regrettable Century
The old forms of the Left are moribund and the new forms are stupid. We're making a podcast that discusses the need to organize a Dialectical Pessimism and develop a salvage project capable of sparking a new workers' movement for socialism. A clean, honest, and unsentimental melancholy is required; we are cultivating one and would like to share it with you. “The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned. I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.” -- Antonio Gramsci
The Pinnacle of Spectacle: Trump, War, and Opposition in Late Spectacular Capitalism
This week Chris and Jason signed on to give an update on the status of the spectacular nature of American Capitalism. Trump's useless strikes on Iran and false declaration of victory prompted us to revisit Guy Debord's concept of the spectacle in relation to contemporary American politics.
Revenge of the Spectacle: This Time It's Personal
http://www.redwedgemagazine.com/online-issue/revenge-of-the-spectacle-this-time-its-personal
The Game of War. Guy Debord and the Society of the Spectacle.
https://www.threemonkeysonline.com/the-game-of-war-guy-debord-and-the-society-of-the-spectacle/ <...
PATREON PREVIEW -- Regrettable Geopolitics 6/28/2025
US Attacks Iran... Did It Work?, Iran Tosses out the IAEA, NATO Potemkin Summit, The Inexorable Russian Lava Flow Pushes On, Ukraine Keeps Collapsing...
How to Pronounce Schadenfreude
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3_DjiLLDfo
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On Care For Our Common Home: Laudato Si and Christian Anti-Capitalism (Part I)
Real romantic anti-capitalism hours are back, and this week the boys brought in Mir and Daniel to read Laudato Si by the late Pope Francis, as published by Verso Books (you can read it on the Vatican website or in book form, but we got the free ebook from Verso).
This Papal Encyclical calls for urgent action to address the global environmental crisis, critiques consumerism, blind developmentalism, inequality, and profit seeking. The document calls for global political solidarity to transition to a sustainable economy and for protection of the worlds most vulnerable populations.
...
Patreon Preview: The Question of Nationalities & Social Democracy by Otto Bauer: (Episode XI) FINAL
This is it folks, the second half of Chapter 7 and the grand finale of the reading series.
Go to the Patreon to hear the whole episode.
Join the Discord to help us determine what's next…
And Read Along Here:
https://libcom.org/article/question-nationalities-and-social-democracy-otto-bauer
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PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics 06/09/2025
Poland No Confidence in Tusk, Saudis Support For Syria, Israel Attacks Syria, More Genocide in Gaza, Russia vs Ukraine/Al Qaeda in Africa, Walkin' in the Spiderwebs, Terrorism?, Ukraine Body Swap Debacle, Russia's Inexorable Advance Continues...
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The Velvet Counterrevolution/Divorce (Czechoslovak Socialism Part III) *UNLOCKED*
In the final episode of our Czechoslovak Socialism series, we dive into the final attempt to reform the Czechoslovak system. As with the Prague Spring, the official ML/liberal narrative about are the same, that this was an attempt to overthrow socialism and establish a capitalist democracy. Just like the Prague Spring, it seems clear that the intentions of its participants were the opposite. The vast majority of Czechoslovaks who participated in the movements that brought down the republic were attempting to reform the socialist system, not destroy it.
Krapfl, James. Revolution with a Human Face Politics...
Patreon Preview -- Boundless and Bottomless Bonus: Updates On Pessimism
The dudes are back, although Sean couldn't join for this episode. Jason and Varn talk about some of the logic here, the limits of trying to pin down conservatism right now, and why politics is so frustrating. No, we didn't speak much about Dugin... but we are doing this to remind everyone that we will.
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Patreon Preview -- The Question of Nationalities and Social Democracy by Otto Bauer: Regrettable Book Club (Episode X)
The gang takes on the first half of Chapter 7 of Bauer's analysis of the concept of the nation...
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https://libcom.org/article/question-nationalities-and-social-democracy-otto-bauer
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From Dawn to Decadence (Part IV) With Varn Vlog
The boys and Varn Vlog are back again, for the long-awaited return to our series talking about "Decadence Theory." This week, the boys respond to a response to the ICC's pamphlet on decadence theory. The article we read and discussed was published by Aufheben and is titled The Theory of Decline or the Decline of Theory.
Decadence: The Theory of Decline or the Decline of Theory? Part
Varn Vlog
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Trump's America and the Working Class Fightback (Crossposted From the For a New Republic podcast)
We recently went on the For a New Republic podcast to talk about Trump, fascism, and rebuilding the workers' movement in the United States. For a New Republic is the official podcast of Éirígí For A New Republic, an Irish socialist republican party that seeks the reunification of Ireland and the establishment of a workers' republic.
Éirígí For A New Republic
For a New Republic Podcast
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Suppo...
PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics 05/17/2025
Hungary vs Ukraine, Iran Nuke Proposal, Why Trump Declared Victory Over the Houthis, Chinese Jets Better than Euro's?, Istanbul Clown Show, Ukraine's Lost War of Attrition Continues...
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The Ever Present Present: The Long Now and the Cancellation of the Future
This week we return to an always prescient question: What happened to the future?
What Lies Ahead?
https://jacobin.com/2023/01/slavoj-zizek-time-future-history-catastrophe-emancipation
Mark Fisher’s Specters of Scarcity
https://jacobin.com/2025/01/mark-fisher-neoliberalism-acid-communism
‘Culture has lost the ability to grasp the present’
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/mark-fisher-ghosts-retromania/
How the pandemic messed with our perception of time
https://www.vox.com/science/23823507/pandemic-memory-time-perception-lockdown
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Sup...
PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics 05/09/2025
Habemus Papam, Al Qaeda 🤝France, Trump Owned by Xi, Trump Owned by Houthis, Trump Owned by Bibi, Pakistan vs India, China 🤝 Russia, Ukraine's Very Bleak Strategic Assessment...
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PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics 05/02/2025
Trump/Zelensky Meeting, Minerals Deal, US Arms Sales to Ukraine, Superhornet Down!, North Korean Troops in Kursk, Russian Gains in April
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The Stumbling God Emperor (or the 100 Days of Gomorrah)
The boys got together to take a look at the first 100 days of Trump's presidency. We talk about inept bumbling, cruelty, misery, war, and how it's still not fascism.
Jacobin: This Is America by Daniel Bessner
The Nation: The New McCarthyism Was Started by Liberals by Jeet Heer
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PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics 04/24/2025
Trump Talks Truce, Iran Nuclear Deal, What's the Point of the EU?, Don't Bluff China, Sumy Missile Strike, Russia Rolls On
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Patreon Preview -- For What We Will: A Brief History of American Socialism (For the New Zealand Federation of Socialist Societies)
A couple of weeks ago, Jason gave a talk to the New Zealand Federation of Socialist Societies about the history of American Socialism. Here is the audio of that talk...
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Freedom Stumbles On: Hegel and the Slaughter-Bench of History (PART II)
The boys (featuring the return of Mir) return to the slaughter-bench to finish discussing Terry Pinkard's article "The Spirit of History."
The Spirit of History by Terry Pinkard
https://aeon.co/essays/what-is-history-nobody-gave-a-deeper-answer-than-hegel
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PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics 04/12/2025
Kursk Losses Breakdown, China China China, Israel Executes UN Worker and Paramedics, Ansar Allah Reaps Reaper Drones, Renewed Russian Offensive?
And so on...
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Patreon Preview -- The Question of Nationalities and Social Democracy by Otto Bauer: Regrettable Book Club (Episode X)
The gang tackles Chapter 06 of Bauer's analysis of the concept of the nation.
The Transformation of the Principle of Nationality (pg. 355)
National Autonomy and the Principle of Nationality
The Roots of Capitalist Expansionism
The Working Class and Capitalist Expansionism
Imperialism and the Principle of Nationality
Socialism and the Principle of Nationality
Read along with us:
https://libcom.org/article/question-nationalities-and-social-democracy-otto-bauer
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Unbreakable Union: Introductions (With an introduction to the introduction by Jason and Chris)
Here's a bonus episode for you on what is normally an off week.
Listen now to hear Jason and Chris give an introduction to the introduction of the Unbreakable Union podcast, then listen to the introduction.
Unbreakable Union Podcast
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PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics 04/02/2025
Rare Earths Deal, War Footing in the Pacific, Coalition of the... Willing?, Ceasefire Breaches, Le Pen Convicted, Trump is Pissed off at Putin, NYT Says Ukrainians are Stupid Losers, Russian Offensive Isn't Stalling After All...
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Introducing The Unbreakable Union Podcast: The Contemporary Importance of Soviet History
This week Chris talks to Jason and Matthew about their new podcast: Unbreakable Union. This ambitious project will span six seasons with roughly one decade being covered per season.
Check out our episode then listen to the podcast below or on your preferred podcatcher. It should be showing up everywhere in the next few days.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2462690
Also, come join our Patreon and get access to our discord!
Click below:
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*RE-UPLOADED* PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics 03/29/2025
Signalgate, Yemen, Ceasefire Failures, Russian Advances, and Ukrainian Flailing.
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Patreon Preview: Patron Q&A #3
Ok, finally we get around to answering questions about religion and parenting... also some other stuff. Just go listen.
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Freedom Stumbles On: Hegel and the Slaughter-Bench of History -- Part I (Featuring Mir)
The boys (featuring the return of Mir) kick back on the slaughter-bench to discuss Hegel's philosophy of history by discussing Terry Pinkard's article "The Spirit of History."
The Spirit of History by Terry Pinkard
https://aeon.co/essays/what-is-history-nobody-gave-a-deeper-answer-than-hegel
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PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics 03/23/2025
Regrettable Geopolitics - 03/23/2025 (Israel Turns the Genocide Machine Back On, Yemen/Iran, Kursk, Other Ukraine Things, and Cease-Fire Talks)
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Patreon Preview: Patron Q&A #2
Finally, the long-awaited second Q&A episode. We talk USSR, religion, parenting, and all sort of other stuff... but some of it will have to wait until Q&A #3, which will be soon. Enjoy!
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Bring the Race-War Home: Foreign Fighters, Neo-Nazi Networks, and Domestic Terrorism
This week Chris and Jason read and discussed a paper Chris wrote for a strategic studies project about neo-Nazi terror networks and their links to far-right militias in Ukraine.
The influx of foreign fighters to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion of 2022 has outpaced US intel and law enforcement agencies' ability to monitor potential radicals going to and coming from Ukraine. Far-right extremists have been drawn to the conflict in Ukraine since 2014 due to affiliated organizations that belong to a web of loosely related violent neo-fascist organizations. Several affiliated extremists have been apprehended planning terror a...
PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics -- 03/09/2025 (a little Syria, a little Europe, and a lot of Russia/Ukraine)
Another lightly edited casual conversation about geopolitics. We do a whirlwind summary of the stuff that has happened since last week and land back on the subject of Ukraine for most of the program.
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From Dawn to Decadence (Part III): With Varn Vlog *UNLOCKED*
The boys and Varn Vlog are back again, talking about "Decadence Theory" and how it differs from "crisis theory" and "breakdown theory." We discuss Samir Amin's third-worldist (and not very Marxist) take on decadence theory.
Revolution or Decadence- Samir Amin
https://monthlyreview.org/2018/05/01/revolution-or-decadence/
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PATREON PREVIEW: Regrettable Geopolitics 03/01/2025 (Ukraine: Trump vs Zelensky, Manpower Crisis, Dictatorship, Attritional Warfare)
Welcome to a new series that we are trying out for Patrons. This is a lightly edited casual conversation between Jason and Chris about Geopolitics. We aren't really preparing for these by doing a lot of research and we certainly aren't doing much editing. We are going to try to do these semi-regularly and hopefully we can figure out how to do video versions as well.
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The Neverending Pursuit of Truth: T.G. Masaryk's Challenge to Marxism
This week we discussed the thought of one of 20th-century Marxism's socialist opponents, Tomáš Masaryk. Masaryk was reviled by Czech communists until they appropriated him and he was an opponent of capitalism until the champions of capitalism did the same. He was a social democrat with an ethical and Christian-humanist vision of socialism that inspired the Prague Spring but was later coopted by the opponents of the working class and human liberation.
A State without Suicide
https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/state-without-suicide
Betts, R. R...
Patreon Preview -- A Refutation of All Judgements... (A Discussion of the film by Guy Debord)
So, you think you had some judgments? TOO BAD THEY ARE ALL REFUTED!
This week Jason and Andrew watched and discussed Guy Debord's follow up to his Society of the Spectacle film, which is essentially a clapback at his haters. As any good Regrettable discussion goes, the film was the anchor, but the topics ranged far and wide. Enjoy!
Refutation of All the Judgements, Pro or Con, Thus Far Rendered on the Film “The Society of the Spectacle" (1975)
https://www.ubu.com/film/debord_refutation.html
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In Defense of Proletarian Idealism
This week we read and discussed an article by Richard Seymour that explores Marxism's relationship with materialism and idealism. Seymour argues that the Hegelian inheritance within Marxism forces it in the direction of an idealism which is essential for a successful revolutionary politics.
Duel and duality, or, degrowth and dialectics https://www.patreon.com/posts/81735357?pr=true&fbclid=IwAR2ftGQudDJQhykIW4rv_3F34xqP8RGHZdyZyb4JsGQgxzQ7qxvRNI9BP7k
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Patreon Preview -- Question of Nationalities & Social Democracy by Otto Bauer: Regrettable Book Club (Episode IX)
The gang tackles Chapter 5 of Bauer's analysis of the concept of the nation.
Read Along With Us:
https://libcom.org/article/question-nationalities-and-social-democracy-otto-bauer
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Partisans of a Dying Dream: The Populist Moment and American Socialism
This week we delve into what is sort of a pre-history of the American Socialist movement. Though the populist movement undeniably kept its Jeffersonian character, it was the first (arguably only) significant challenge to the dominance of the two major capitalist parties in the US. Much of the energy and the spirit of American populism flowed into and colored the burgeoning American workers' movement.
From Populism to Socialism and Back
https://jacobin.com/2019/08/populism-socialism-daniel-de-leon-eugene-debs
American Populism, 1876-1896
https://digital.lib.niu.edu/illinois/gildedage/populism
Populist Party Platform July 4, 1892
<...
Patreon Preview -- From Dawn to Decadence (Part III): With Varn Vlog
The boys and Varn Vlog are back again, talking about "Decadence Theory" and how it differs from "crisis theory" and "breakdown theory." We discuss Samir Amin's Third-Worldist (and not very Marxist) take on decadence theory.
Revolution or Decadence- Samir Amin
https://monthlyreview.org/2018/05/01/revolution-or-decadence/
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Patreon Preview -- The Question of Nationalities & Social Democracy by Otto Bauer (Episode VIII)
The gang tackles Chapter 4 of Bauer's analysis of the concept of the nation...
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Our Regrettable Trash Can of Ideology
This week we entered the archives and poured through the codices and scrolls containing the wisdom of past episodes to give you this curated trash can of Ideology. We highlighted some themes from the past six years of podcasting that we thought were worth underscoring and how our ideas may have changed...
Our Underlying Philosophy of Dialectical Pessimism
Making Sense of Our Past
S...
