meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

#1243 The story of Socialism in America

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

Jay Tomlinson

Politics, News Commentary, News

4.53.4K Ratings

🗓️ 22 January 2019

⏱️ 80 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Air Date: 1/22/2019

Today we take a look at socialism in America from our often violent response to the concept in the wake of the Russian Revolution through the recent revival in interest driven primarily by the younger generation today

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Episode Sponsors: Privacy.com/Best| Madison-Reed.com+ Promo Code: Left | WearPact.com+ Promo Code: BestoftheLeft

Amazon USA| Amazon CA| Amazon UK| Clean Choice Energy

Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content: Support our show on Patreon!


SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Red Dawn Americans and the Bolshevik Revolution - @BackStory - Air Date 11-9-17

One hundred years ago, Vladimir Lenin and his Bolshevik Party seized power in a revolution that would change the world. Today we explore how that distant revolution had an immediate impact in the United States.

Ch. 2: What the Russian Revolution Proved Possible - Empire Files - Air Date 12-18-17

To understand the context of this first socialist experiment, how it happened and what caused the many problems it faced, Abby Martin sits down with Brian Becker, a long-time socialist organizer.

Ch. 3: America’s Unofficial Religion - The War On An Idea Part 1 - Empire Files - Air Date 11-27-17

Everyone in the United States knows that “socialist” or “communist” is considered a bad word. How did things get that way? Abby Martin explores the history of anti-communism in America and the heavy repression of an idea that became an unofficial religion

Ch. 4: "Socialism" in the Air - On the Media - Air Date 7-27-18

The word "socialism" has been trending, appearing on op-ed pages, FOX News, ABC's The View and beyond. In this word watch, Bob speaks with another self-described socialist, Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan Robinson

Ch. 5: Americans are ready for socialism - @ThisIsHellRadio - Air Date 3-13-18

Columnist Elizabeth Bruenig looks beyond the failures of liberalism, to the possibilities of socialism. Elizabeth wrote the op-ed “It’s time to give socialism a try” at the Washington Post.

Ch. 6: Richard D. Wolff - What are Capitalism & Socialism? What differentiates them from each other? - acTVism Munich - Air Date 2-21-17

In this interview with Professor of Economics Emeritus (University of Massachusetts), Marxist economist and founder of Democracy at Work, Richard D. Wolff, we talk to him about Capitalism and Socialism.

Ch. 7: Why Are People Talking About Socialism? with Paul Jay - @TheRealNews - Air Date 1-2-19

Explaining why socialisms time may have come - the failures of capitalism

Ch. 8: Dr. Richard Wolff on Marxism 101: How Capitalism is Killing Itself - Empire Files - Air Date 11-28-17

Prof. Richard Wolff explains some tenets of how a modern socialists system could work

Ch. 9: America’s Unofficial Religion The War On An Idea Part 2 - Empire Files - Air Date 11-27-17

Capitalism can no longer compare itself with the dysfunctional Soviet Union but can only be compared to itself and it's failures


Bonus Clips:

Fox & Friends Have TOTAL Meltdown Over Socialism - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date 8-6-18

Odd Republican Lady Bashes Ocasio-Cortez On Fox After Meeting Her - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date 7-24-18


FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 10: Final comments wrapping up conservative arguments against socialist programs


MUSIC(Blue Dot Sessions):

  • Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr
  • Trois Gnossiennes - Blue Dot Sesisons
  • Gondola Blue - Towboat
  • Our Fingers Cold - K2
  • Tiny Putty - The Cabinetmaker
  • Waltz and Fury - Macrame
  • The Summit - K2
  • The Provisions - K4
  • Peacoat - Studio J
  • Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

Listen on iTunes | Stitcher| Spotify| Alexa Devices| +more

Check out the BotL iOS/AndroidApp in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunesand Stitcher!

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Today's episode is sponsored by Privacy.com, the totally free service that lets you buy

0:07.9

anything online without having to give out your credit card number and lets you prevent

0:13.0

companies from overcharging you.

0:15.2

You link your bank account to your privacy.com account and then you're able to create virtual

0:20.0

credit card numbers to use when you shop.

0:22.5

You can create as many virtual cards as you want, you can delete them, you can freeze

0:26.7

them, unfreeze them and set spending limits on each card.

0:30.2

There are countless different advantages to using a service like this to pay your bills

0:33.7

and buy things online.

0:35.0

For instance, use a virtual credit card when you sign up for a free trial and never worry

0:39.6

about canceling or being charged when the trial is over.

0:43.3

You can find out more, get 100% free and unlimited access and a $5 credit just for

0:49.8

trying by going to privacy.com slash best and you can find that link in the show notes.

0:56.5

And now, welcome to this episode of the award winning best of the left podcast in which

1:00.5

we shall learn about the history of socialism in America from our often violent response

1:05.4

to the idea in the wake of the Russian Revolution through the recent revival and interest today.

1:11.3

Clips Today come from backstory, the Empire Files on the media, this is hell, activism

1:17.4

and the real news network.

1:20.6

If we step back from the moment and with the advantage of hindsight, we can see that

1:30.6

for much of the 20th century, the Soviet Union was the United States' ideological foil.

1:41.0

Do you think that's something that we can find in 10 days that shook the world itself?

1:47.2

Does reads work for shadow that?

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jay Tomlinson, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Jay Tomlinson and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.