Pod Damn America

We talk with Jake Ephros and Joel Brooks who are both DSA backed candidates for Jersey City City Council. They tell us about their campaigns and give us an overview of NJ's fascinating political scene, a sometimes mobbed up, always motley band of characters including Jersey's own disgraced former Governor turned Mayoral candidate, Jim McGreevy. DONATE TO JAKE AND JOEL https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jakeandjoelforjc SIGN UP TO CANVASS https://joelforjc.com/volunteer https://www.jakeforjc.com/volunteer SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BONUS FEED Patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2025

Let's talk about Michael Parenti's 1997 book Blackshirts and Reds FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 9 August 2025

We are joined by Ros Benes to talk about his new book, 1999:The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times. But first, we talk about bald culture and whether you should do Jubilee shit. ROSS BENES Ross Benes is the award-winning author of three books. He has written for Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, Lincoln Journal Star, Nation, Omaha World-Herald, Rolling Stone, Wall Street Journal, and more. A native of Brainard, Nebraska, he now cheers on the Huskers from New York. @rossbenes BOOK https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700638574/ MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 4 August 2025

It's been 10 years since Greece elected a radical left government that shook its fist at the EU and IMF in January only to fold in July. We talk about Syriza's moment, the mystique of Yanis Varoufakis and, of course, some armchair socialist counterfactuals. For the full episode subscribe to our bonus feed at Patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 1 August 2025

We talk Jasmine Crockett, aliens, Tom Lehrer, Blackstone, Cats, Italy, tariffs, trees, and more. Dark woke. PAID PROTEST https://secure.actblue.com/donate/paidprotestjoeljake MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 29 July 2025

I answer some questions from the discord but first we must discuss the Tesla Diner. FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 24 July 2025

AOC? Trump? Street Fighter? Pubes? We once again tackle the news of the week. ANTI ICE SHOW IN LOS ANGELES https://www.eventbrite.com/e/laff-bloc-comedy-against-ice-wjake-flores-tickets-1448253859279 MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 21 July 2025

Anders and AP Andy chat about the new Superman movie, its dark woke themes, the character's popular front origins and more! For the full episode subscribe to our bonus feed at Patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 17 July 2025

Gabe Pacheco from Halal Cartels returns for the 3rd chapter of our series on The Magonistas, the anarchists that sparked the Mexican Revolution GABE PACHECO @gabe_pacheco @gabepac1 on IG @halalcartels https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/halalcartels/ MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica LOS ANGELES ANTI ICE COMEDY SHOW LAFF BLOC https://www.eventbrite.com/e/laff-bloc-comedy-against-ice-wjake-flores-tickets-1448253859279

Transcribed - Published: 15 July 2025

CROSS POD ALERT: Justin from The Preacher and the Slave and Library Punks and Tony Boswell from Minion Death Cult (R.I.P.) join Jake to talk about Ryan Coogler's Sinners JUSTIN @smazzie.bsky.social https://www.librarypunk.gay/ The Preacher and The Slave https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/preacher-and-the-slave/id1816742993f @patspod.bsky.social‬ TONY BOSWELL @wordisbond @wordisbondtv FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA JAKE'S LA SHOW JULY 25 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/laff-bloc-comedy-against-ice-wjake-flores-tickets-1448253859279

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2025

Freddy G fills in for Jake to talk with Anders about the newsworthiness of Zohran's college applications, Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn's new UK party and Philly sanitation workers on strike. Then Fred rounds out the show with a little historical background on Iran's conflict with Israel. Check out the Vanquished @Vanquishedpod on social media Paid Protest Brooklyn 7/11: bit.ly/PAIDPROTESTJULY Paid Protest Queens 7/17: https://qedastoria.com/products/paid-protest-7-17 Subscribe to our bonus feed: Patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 7 July 2025

Anders makes us watch this weird ass movie from 2004 about what would happen if all the Mexicans* in California got raptured and it leads to a surprisingly fruitful conversation. FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 3 July 2025

Anders and Jake go over some fresh Andrew Cuomo tea about his hilariously bad Mayoral campaign (and his nipples). Then we're joined by Cait and Caif, the minds behind Hot Girls 4 Zohran, as well as an NYC-DSA Organizer named Wilderness to discuss last Tuesday's incredible win! What field and digital strategies went into Zohran Mamdani winning the nomination? How can you replicate this in your city? Tune in to find out! JOIN DSA: https://act.dsausa.org/donate/membership/ HOT GIRLS 4 ZOHRAN: https://www.instagram.com/hotgirls4zohran/?hl=en PAID PROTEST 7/11: bit.ly/PAIDPROTESTJULY SUB TO OUR BONUS FEED: Patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 30 June 2025

Zohran activates the commie corridor and wins big. But first, a young man attempts to traffic hot contraband internationally. FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2025

We dig into Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman's seminal work, Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media and tackle the question: Do we live in a post Manufacturing Consent world? Do we need a Consent Trump to bring back Consent Manufacturing jobs? etc. PAID PROTEST 7/11 bit.ly/PAIDPROTESTJULY MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 23 June 2025

Anders tells us about Fiorello La Guardia, progressive New Deal era Mayor who some are comparing Zohran Mamdani to. But first, Jake is in HOT WATER. FUL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 21 June 2025

Jake talks about the "No Kings" rallies across the country, then we move to the shootings in Minnesota, Trump's military parade, some fun Eric Adams updates and more. Paid Protest Queens 6/19: https://qedastoria.com/products/paid-protest-queens

Transcribed - Published: 16 June 2025

Anders recaps the last NYC Mayoral Primary debate and then Jake provides further context on the ongoing uprising in Los Angeles! Oh yeah, and Israel just attacked Iran. Full episode and the rest of our catalog available at Patreon.com/Poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2025

Anders talks to journalist and Zoomer Alex Bronzini-Vender about the event being called "centrist Coachella"; essentially the opposite of what's happening in LA right now, but a fun conversation nonetheless!

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

I'm really tired

Transcribed - Published: 9 June 2025

We talk with the legendary Theo Chino. But first, the girls are fighting. FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2025

We talk with the legendary Theo Chino. But first, the girls are fighting. FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2025

We talk about Elon Musk's crash out, Radiohead, and other of the week's stories before getting into the McCarran Walter Act, the 1952 law that Trump has been using to deport anti genocide protesters. MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2025

Anders tells Jake about Jean-Luc Mélenchon's book Now The People: Revolution in the 21st Century. Jake tells Anders about the bathroom at Starbuck's. FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2025

Jake and Gabe continue the continue the story of the Mexican anarchists that sparked the Mexican revolution GABE PACHECO + HALAL CARTELS @gabe_Pacheco on TWITTER @gabepac1 on IG creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/halalcartels/ linktr.ee/Gabepacheco SOURCES Bad Mexicans by Kelly Lytle Hernandez Dreams of Freedom by Chaz Bufe & Mitchell Vowen Verter on AK Press Jake's life MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2025

We discuss the 1966 film The Battle of Algiers FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2025

At long last we embark on the story of the anarchists who laid the groundwork for the Mexican Revolution and for a dumb comedian to exist 100 years later. Gabe Pacheco from Halal Cartels joins us to discuss our collective history. GABE PACHECO + HALAL CARTELS @gabe_Pacheco on TWITTER @gabepac1 on IG https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/halalcartels/ https://linktr.ee/Gabepacheco SOURCES Bad Mexicans by Kelly Lytle Hernandez Dreams of Freedom by Chaz Bufe & Mitchell Vowen Verter on AK Press Jake's life MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2025

We discuss The Myth of Autism by Tamimi, Gardner & McCabe (IGNORE PROVOCATIVE TITLE or... be PROVOKED BY IT?) but FIRST Is GenX living forever inside of you? Ask Grok, FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2025

Jake and Jamie discuss friend of the show Kim Stanley Robinson's 2020 Climate Fiction masterpiece Ministry For The Future and engage in some COMRADELY criticism (we love you, Stan) JAMIE PECK @jamie_elizabeth https://linktr.ee/jamiepeck PARTY GIRLS https://www.patreon.com/PartyGirls https://www.youtube.com/@partygirlspod MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2025

We finally did it we finally let our discord mod do an episode. Strap in and learn about the Portuguese Carnation Revolution of 1975. ANTONIO CORREIA @SelfLoathingEgo https://bsky.app/profile/selfloathingego.bsky.social GARBAGE STATE https://bsky.app/profile/garbagestatepod.bsky.social HELP OUT JAMES https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-james-recovery-from-serious-surgery?attribution_id=sl:8a6f26d7-7253-46cf-bd11-1e6b9357b257&lang=en_US&ts=1746669532&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp13_t1-amp14_t2-amp15_t3&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&v=amp14_t2 FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2025

Anders talks to author Malcolm Harris about his new book "What's Left? Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis." But first, Jake tells us about his trip to the Ren Fair and Anders talks about this weekend's massive Zohran rally in NYC. Malcolm's book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/malcolm-harris/whats-left/9780316577434/ See Anders in Jersey City 5/10: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/socialistcomedyfundraiser Subscribe to our bonus feed for extra episodes: Patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2025

This week we put on our thinking caps and read some theory with our pals AP Andy from The Antifada and Alex Collyard from comedy. ANDY GITTLITZ @baseprole @The_Antifada https://linktr.ee/gittlitz Alex Collyard @alexcollyard https://linktr.ee/AlexCollyard FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2025

Drew Grant AKA Video Drew joins Jake to check in on the state of television in the year 2025. They discuss Black Mirror (season 7), Andor, Severance, and for reasons that will become apparent, Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. MILD SPOILERS for Black Mirror s7e1 and Severance s2, and I guess Frankenstein. VIDEO DREW @VideoDrew on everything MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 27 April 2025

We discuss the history of the Food and Drug Administration, snout to tail. Plus, why it is now being used to lower your precious sperm count. Also Jean-Luc Mélenchon! FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

&y & &ers smoke a joint and read Walter Benjamin's On the Concept of History Read along: https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/benjamin/1940/history.htm Song: Johnny Thunders - You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory For the full ep subscribe to our bonus feed at Patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

Marc William Palen, author of Pax Economica: Left-Wing Visions of a Free Trade World joins us to discuss his book! MARC PALEN https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691199320/pax-economica?srsltid=AfmBOore-3IIb5YfVJszYhF4NMa1Witm7u3YS53bVsRlfpmJ8wxRBQv0 MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica PAID PROTEST MAY 2ND bit.ly/PAIDPROTESTMAY

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

Anders' Vanquished co-host Freddy G joins the show to discuss resistance hero Cory Booker's past as a "reformer" of the Newark school system when he was Mayor; a sordid history of austerity and privatization he now tries not to talk about. Check out the full episode on our bonus feed at Patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2025

Unfortunately this week we have to talk about politics and Bernie Sanders and AOC and stuff but it's the only way to get to what this episode is really about, which is who the hell is posting "let him cook" from the White House twitter account. Influencers, AI, tech freaks, campaigns, and getting the cops called on your drunk ass: This week we talk about an ominous tech startup that for some reason is called Urban Legend. MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2025

It's another theory ep! If you don't like that, too bad! This week we talk about Peter Kropotkin, his book The Conquest of Bread, and anarcho communism in general. Gentleman, lets conquest that bread etc. Also tariffs, aesexuals, JK Rowling, Elon, facebook, trucks, needing trucks, etc. FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2025

We are joined by Eric King, author of A Clean Hell: Anarchy and Abolition in America’s Most Notorious Dungeon, to talk about how he ended up in ADX, America's highest level supermax prison, and how he survived and eventually got free. ERIC KING @supportericking @pmpress A CLEAN HELL: https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1872 listeners can get a 20% discount with coupon code: HELL20 PDA MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PDA PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 5 April 2025

We talk about this Abundance book that the freaking libs are hollering about. Plus Corey Booker, the millennial pause, tariffs, and other nonsense of the week FULL EP AT patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

We discuss Frantz Fanon's seminal work on decolonization, The Wretched of the Earth, as well as pikachu. CUOMO ROAST NYC https://dice.fm/partner/silo-brooklyn-llc/event/avo57v-paid-protest-the-roast-of-andrew-cuomo-4th-apr-silo-community-new-york-city-tickets?dice_id=5592486&dice_channel=web&dice_tags=organic&dice_campaign=SILO+Brooklyn+LLC&dice_feature=mio_marketing&_branch_match_id=1360481265611278312&utm_source=web&utm_campaign=SILO+Brooklyn+LLC&utm_medium=mio_marketing&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz8nMy9ZLyUxO1UvL1fc1TjKySEw2SjIyM7avK0pNSy0qysxLj08qyi8vTi2ydc4oys9NBQBeagVbOwAAAA%3D%3D MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 30 March 2025

We discuss the Atlantic editor's nightmare blunt rotation group chat fiasco and also the recently declassified CIA documents that prove once and for all not much really FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

Jake goes to Mexico City to learn the story of Mexico's anarchist past. He meets a dog and a cat. NYC CUOMO ROAST https://bit.ly/Cuomoroast MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2025

We continue the St. Paddy's Week theme with some discussion of the Irish rap group/movie Kneecap, then Anders digs into the state of Sinn Fein and a really interesting essay on what it would take to unite Ireland, as well as how desirable one Irish Republic really is after all. Article: https://thebaffler.com/salvos/irish-unification-2024-sheehan

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2025

We talk to civil rights attorney Keegan Stephan about the Mahmoud Khalil case and what it portends for the U.S. Palestine solidarity movement. But first, Cuck Schumer caves to the MAGA budget and Anders digs up some interesting stories about his...imaginary friends. Subscribe to our bonus feed for full episode catalog at Patreon.com/Poddamnamerica Vanquished Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@VanquishedPodcast

Transcribed - Published: 15 March 2025

Labor Studies Professor and author of We Are The Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing Is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big joins us to talk about labor organizing! ERIC BLANC EWOC: www.workerorganizing.org Become a salt: bit.ly/saltnow Support federal workers: go.savepublicservices.com My new book: https://www.ucpress.edu/books/we-are-the-union/paper (Listeners can get a 50% discount by putting in the code UNION50) My substack: www.laborpolitics.com MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2025

Andrew Cuomo has announced his candidacy for mayor of New York City and Anders Lee is mad as hell about it. FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2025

Maxelle Talena from Dysphoria joins us to discuss the top shortage and whether political economy can be applied to people not wanting to fuck each other. All wealth is created by the bottom class, etc. MAXELLE TALENA @MaxelleTalena on twitter @Maxelle_Talena on IG https://www.maxelletalena.com/ DYSPHORIA https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dysphoria/id1588672792 MERCH poddamnamerica.bigcartel.com PATREON + DISCORD patreon.com/poddamnamerica PAID PROTEST 3/7: bit.ly/PAIDPROTESTMAR

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2025

Inspired by our guest this week (Chill Goblin)'s excellent video on the man who is currently lying about having invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos, we decided to try to figure out who invented Mountain Dew: Baja Blast, and in the process, learned some DISTURBING things. FULL EP AT PATREON.COM/PODDAMNAMERICA

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2025