What's Left?

Aimee and Benjamin examine Elizabeth Warren's views on education. They talk her long support for charter schools, her proposal to forgive student loan debt, and her failing grade on standardized testing.

Aimee and Benjamin critically examine the structure of co-ops and their emancipatory potential. They talk the efficacy of direct democracy, the difference between co-ops and unions, and why we don't want a workplace filled with managers. To check out other exclusive episodes, become a patron at patreon.com/whatsleft | Reading | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jun/24/alternative-capitalism-mondragon https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/07/the-philosopher-redefining-equality Kasmir, Sharryn, The Myth of Mondragon, (1996), SUNY Press.

In light of Theresa May's resignation, Aimee and Benjamin talk about the ongoing developments surrounding the Brexit referendum. They talk the difference between a hard and soft leave, the viability of a People's vote, and why whoever replaces Theresa May isn't likely to have more success.

A Brief History of the Family by What's Left?

Aimee and Benjamin examine the question "What is the class position of retired people?" They talk the difference between U.S. and Australian entitlements, media consumption, and some of the contradictions in material interests of generational politics.

[A preview of a 2h 25m episode available at patreon.com/whatsleft] A deliriously tired Aimee and Benjamin muddle through a mounting list of concerns they have re the trajectory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's increasingly identitarian rhetoric and political inconsistency. Does she represent the future of a broad based left electoral politics? And why hasn't she endorsed Bernie Sanders already?

Aimee and Benjamin trace the careers of Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren over the past few decades. They look at how each responded to the crises of the 1970s, Reaganism in the 1980s, and the political triangulation of the 1990s. Despite appearing very different now, it turns out they have much more in common. | Reading | https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/world/americas/30iht-letter.1.6894357.html https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/opinion/joe-biden-a-plan-for-central-america.html https://fpif.org/continuing-the-crackdown-on-kids/ https://www.weeklystandard.com/christopher-caldwell/elizabeth-warren-closet-conservative

Aimee and Benjamin discuss the policies of Pete Buttigieg during his time as mayor of South Bend, IN. They examine his inhumane approach to the homeless population, the "makeover" of the city, and his 1,000 Houses in 1,000 Days initiative. | Further Reading| https://www.southbendtribune.com/.../south-bend...buttigieg...homeless.../article_baec63 https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-will-stop-short-of-banning-homeless-encampments/article_8c21a2e6-32b1-11e8-aa91-3bf14deb6e7d.htm https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-considers-legal-options-with-homeless-under-main-street/article_fec3cef8-1585-570e-911a-21f834f073f0.html https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/advocates-decry-south-bend-s-viaduct-policy-as-council-hears/article_43fa2900-c8e6-11e7-81d9-c3074901bed1.html https://www.southbendtribune.com/south-bend-crews-clear-homeless-encampment/article_e36248ba-d8f9-11e7-9c43-ffe79f4cadac.html https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-again-tries-to-vacate-homeless-people-camped-under/article_f42b9509-7900-5551-ae50-a14b1977889e.html http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/Working+Group+Report+on+Chronic+Homelessness.pdf https://medium.com/@hugh_w_forrest/sxsw-moments-pete-buttigieg-25805817b2da https://www.citylab.com/life/2018/01/what-millennial-mayors-are-doing-for-city-hall/552005/ https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2019/04/09/buttigieg-touts-youth-as-a-strength-in-first-las-vegas-campaign-visit/

Aimee and Benjamin examine the political implications of different proposals described as "open borders." They talk amnesty, the nation-state, the effect of free movement on the labor market, and why focusing on the border often overlooks America's role in creating conditions that give rise to immigration in the first place.

Aimee and Benjamin examine the relevance of character in politics. They talk Bernie's income, Joe Biden's #metoo moment, and two articles questioning whether Pete Buttigieg is "gay enough" to be president. | Reading | Christina Cauterucci, "In a Diverse Candidate Field, How Is Pete Buttigieg’s Sexuality Factoring Into His Appeal?" | https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/pete-buttigieg-gay-diversity-white-male-candidate.html Jacob Bacharach, "Why Pete Buttigieg is bad for gays." | https://theoutline.com/post/7288/why-pete-buttigieg-is-bad-for-gays?zd=1&zi=2coob7vk

Aimee and Benjamin tackle the fallout from the Russia investigation. They discuss the media and the blob, the way these institutions "collude," and the anti-democratic implications that result: manufacturing consent for a securitized and anxious body politic. | Further Reading | https://benjaminstudebaker.com/2017/05/10/trussiagate-is-a-neo-mccarthyite-distraction/ https://benjaminstudebaker.com/2018/07/20/why-every-president-tries-to-make-nice-with-russia-and-why-it-never-works/ https://taibbi.substack.com/p/russiagate-is-wmd-times-a-million

Aimee and Benjamin examine the history of the electoral college in US politics and the political motives of those demanding it be abolished. They talk rural voters, proportional representation, and why the electoral college forces presidential candidates to engage with populations they would otherwise ignore.

Aimee and Benjamin examine the various ways liberalism attempts to explain lone wolf terrorism. They discuss the power of dangerous ideas, freedom of speech and civil liberties, and the acceptance of state overreach for protection.

Aimee and Benjamin examine the role of policy white papers in presenting insufficient, means-tested, or outright misleading programs as serious proposals. They look at Elizabeth Warren's "universal" child care program, Andrew Yang's "universal" basic income, and "state single payer" health care. | Readings | Elizabeth Warren's Universal Child Care Plan: https://medium.com/@teamwarren/my-plan-for-universal-child-care-762535e6c20a Andrew Yang's Universal Basic Income Plan: https://www.yang2020.com/what-is-ubi/

Aimee and Benjamin discuss the differences between allyship and solidarity by turning to the political and philosophical traditions from which they emerge: idealism and materialism.