Labor journalist Hamilton Nolan joins Bad Faithto discuss the left's shifting attitude toward immigration with respect to the concerns about the impact of immigrant workers on domestic wages. Does defending domestic workers have to come at the expense of immigrants? And does the shift on this issue reflect a larger rightward shift among online left commentators? The conversation broadens to include a debate on whether labor is disempowered by endorsing Biden, the efficacy of the Squad/DSA's electoral strategy, and whether labor organizing can be successful in the absence of true American labor party.
In a conversation sprawling over two hours, friend of the pod and preeminent Gaza historian Norman Finkelstein returns to Bad Faith to unpack his recent debate with Twitch streamer Destiny (Steven Bonnell) and historian Benny Morris on Lex Fridman Podcast, the latest on the sexual assault allegations against Hamas, Norm's mother's experience testifying against Nazi Adolf Eichmann, and, finally, Marianne Williamson's recent comments on this show pertaining to criticisms Norm's made of her in the past. Even two and a half hours of recording isn't enough time when Norm and Brie hop on a mic together -- and Brie regrets not closing her Apple Watch rings before she started recording -- but, as always, it was a rich and stimulating conversation. You won't want to miss this one.
Perennial favorite Katie Halper returns to Bad Faith to talk Rami Youseff's Pro-Palestine SNL speech, Steven A. Smith dunking on Hillary Clinton, and, of course, Israel's targeted attack on three humanitarian aid vehicles who were delivering much needed food aid to Gazans. Also discussed: Reports that Israel is threatening hostage families not to speak out, and the worst gaslighting from the White House press room.
Documentarian Dan Cohen reports on what he learned on the ground in Haiti through interviews with politician, former police officer, and gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier. Chérizer has been smeared as a cannibal by Elon Musk and some western media outlets, but is the portrait of him as a revolutionary leader closer to the truth? Dan walks us through the Haitian uprising, the ouster of Ariel Henry, and American efforts to intervene -- again.
Unlike in 2020 & 2016, a prescriptive progressive economic agenda hasn't been thrust into mainstream consideration this election cycle. Rather, any talk of the economy has largely centered around questions of inflation: whether Biden is or isn't making it better, and whether leftists are overstating the cost of living struggles of working people. This week, Professor of Economics at SUNY-Cortland Steve Maher joins Bad Faithto assert a positive economic vision for the left, how to defeat globalization, and whether or not right-populists have gotten anything right in these regards -- if only rhetorically. We also debate the value of left electoralism, whether "fraud squad" is a fair charge, and the limits of labor militancy.
