Interdependent Study

The labor movement faces a critical moment that could impact generations to come. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a piece titled “ For Labor, Caution Is Fatal ” by Stephen Lerner in In These Times, which highlights and analyzes the current moment the labor movement is in right now and the challenges that the new administration poses to its progress, as well as what unions and the labor movement...

It is clear that the Trump administration is targeting colleges and universities, as well as students protesting in support of Palestine. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a piece called “Trump’s targeting of students protesting genocide opens new lines of attack” by Neha Madhira in Prism, which highlights how the detainment of Mahmoud Khalil and others is indicative of a larger tactic to weaponi...

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->It is no secret that the state uses violence and coercion to suppress social movements in this country. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss a resource titled “A Troublemakers Guide: Principles for Racial Justice Activists in the Face of State Repression” by the Catalyst Project, which outlines and analyzes how the state u...

The connections between white supremacy and fascism to sci-fi and fantasy are clear. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Fascism” by Sherronda J. Brown in Scalawag, which analyzes and critiques the ways that imagination and fantasy get used by white supremacist and fascist worldviews to advance outrageous and dangerous thinking and political action, and what we need...

Bayard Rustin was a key figure and leader of the Civil Rights Movement, but because he was a gay man, he was mostly relegated to the background and cast as an outsider. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary “Brother Outsider: The Life of Freedom Fighter Bayard Rustin” (co-produced and co-directed by Nancy Kates and Bennett Singer), which chronicles the life, work, and legacy of the gr...

The fight against fascism across the globe is necessary for the survival of Black people. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book The Black Antifascist Tradition: Fighting Back From Anti-Lynching to Abolition by Jeanelle K. Hope and Bill V. Mullen (published by Haymarket Books), which chronicles the history of the fight against fascism and anti-Blackness across the globe by Black activists and...

We must resist the government takeover by the billionaire Right and fascists at all costs. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “ In the Face of Overwhelm ” by Asha Ransby-Sporn in In These Times, which analyzes the ongoing government takeover by fascists and the billionaire Right and highlights what we can and must do to resist being overwhelmed and complacent in the face of it all, and w...

Despite the flurry and onslaught of anti-trans legislation and actions by the new administration, we must stand committed to defending the humanity of trans people and fight this fascist, anti-trans agenda at all costs. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Trump’s Latest Anti-Trans Actions and How We Can Fight Back” by Kelly Hayes in her newsletter Organizing My Thoughts, which outlines a...

There is still much work to be done regarding the future of the struggle to disrupt the distribution of United States weaponry and support to Israel in the ultimate hope to dismantle Zionism and imperialism. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Our Fight Doesn’t End at Cease-Fire” by Nashwa Bawab in In These Times, which features parts of a panel conversation moderated by Bawab between se...

We've got a solo episode today. Aaron revisits and reads Toni Morrison's 1995 essay Racism and Fascism. We explored and appreciated this essay in October 2024 thanks to In These Times decision to republish it. We felt a sense of truth-telling that continues to reverberate 30 years later. Follow us on social media and visit our website! ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠...

The inauguration of Donald Trump on the same day as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday highlights the fact that we are witnessing and living through a significant clash of opposing visions. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “MLK’s Legacy Is One of Class Struggle. To Fight Trump, We Must Carry His Torch.” by Nicholas Powers in Truthout, which explores and outlines how Project 2025 and t...

Given the countless and relentless political attacks on education and learning across the country, the need for antiracist education and educators is paramount. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Teach Truth: The Struggle for Antiracist Education by Jesse Hagopian, which explores and analyzes the concept and disturbing power of uncritical race theory, as well as the origins and examples o...

Nuclear colonialism and racism are at the core of the Indigenous struggle for healthy and viable sacred land in the American Southwest. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the documentary Demon Mineral (directed by Hadley Austin), which chronicles the ongoing Indigenous struggle to reclaim healthy and sacred land among the uranium mines and radioactive desert of the American Southwest, and what we...

With the 2024 election behind us, it is important to figure out where we go from here. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Donald Trump’s Victory, the Elitism of Democrats, and the Need to Build a Hospitable Left” in Hammer & Hope, which features a conversation between Daniel Denvir and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor analyzing the 2024 presidential election results, the concept and effects...

2024 is almost over so it’s time for our last episode of the year! Listen as Aaron and Damien reflect on the past year of our podcast, and each share our top 5 moments from the show. Thank you so much for listening to Interdependent Study! We’ll see you in 2025! Follow us on social media and visit our website! ⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Websi...

There has been much debate over the years about the actions of the United States around the globe as the world’s leading democracy. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Abolition Democracy: Beyond Empire, Prisons, and Torture by Angela Davis, which is a collection of interviews of Davis discussing her critiques of democracy, the connections between the criminal punishment system and the mil...

History and everyday life have proven that the prison industrial complex and fascism are connected. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “The Punishment System and Fascism Go Hand in Hand” by Rachel Herzing, Amelia Kirby, and Jack Norton in Hammer & Hope, which analyzes the importance of understanding the role that the prison industrial complex plays in the existing and emerging threat...

We must be hypervigilant and educated consumers of our news outlets and media in order to fight fascism. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Here Are 5 Media-Related Actions We Can All Take Before Inauguration Day” by Maya Schenwar and Lara Witt co-published in Truthout and Prism, which outlines several strategies and actions for the media and consumers to pursue leading up to and beyond...

Our movement toward a more just, humane, and liberated society begins with love. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book Loving Corrections by adrienne maree brown, which is a collection of essays, conversations, and poems focused on love-based corrections and reframes for ourselves, our society, and our movements for liberation in the context of our current political climate, and what we lear...

There is great hope and potential in the possibility of us truly representing ourselves through direct democracy. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “The Potential Benefits of Direct Democracy and Voting for Policies, Not Personalities” by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò in Hammer & Hope, which analyzes the concept of direct democracy as a powerful and alternative strategy for our electoral and po...

The connections between Black and Palestinian liberation struggles are clear and present now more than ever. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Black-Palestinian Solidarity in Moments of Crisis and Beyond” by Nashwa Bawab in In These Times, which features an interview with four incredible activists—Eman Abdelhadi, Calvin John Smiley, Sandra Tamari, and James Burch—about the importance a...

There is so much to learn about the religious underpinnings and functions of the mass criminalization of Black, Indigenous, and marginalized communities. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the book White Property, Black Trespass: Racial Capitalism and the Religious Function of Mass Criminalization by Andrew Krinks, which analyzes the existence and history of police, prisons, and the criminal punis...

We’ve got a special episode this week! Listen as Aaron and Damien engage in a dialogue activity using The Skin Deep’s {THE AND} On Racism Edition tool and have a special conversation about their personal thoughts and reflections on a wide range of social justice issues. Follow us on social media and visit our website! Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

June Jordan’s experiences and writings about censorship and dissent still apply today. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “June Jordan on Palestine and American Delusions” in In These Times, which features an introduction by Sherell Barbee. This piece features excerpts of June Jordan’s essay “Life After Lebanon” (1984), which is a reflection on Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and th...

The perils of fascism are a danger to our ability to reach the North Star of liberation. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Toni Morrison on Fascism and Censorship” in In These Times, which features an introduction by Sherell Barbee. This piece features reprints of Toni Morrison’s essays “Peril” (2008) and “Racism and Fascism” (1995), which highlight the dangers of fascism to all of us...