Politically Depressed

Witnessing the genocide in Gaza, and the barbaric violence of the Zionist state, has made imagining a better world near impossible. The question on everyone's mind, after each new massacre, each new escalation, is where do we go from here? How do we go on? What is the point of it all? There are obviously no definitive answers, but I talk about a couple of new nourishing insights which have helped...

I read out a short story written by the great Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani. The power of his words remain as relevant as it ever did. I'll periodically do readings like this and of course open to recommendations. Read the short story here --- --- Support this podcast: Tip jar: https://buymeacoffee.com/poldep Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/firethesetimes

I go off on one. I can't. As a queer arab, as an anti-capitalist, anti-racist, anti-imperialist, as someone whose eyes are bloodshot with rage and heart is constantly breaking over the ongoing genocide in Gaza, I thoroughly reject Pride in its most popular co-opted forms. Pride is a protest, not a surrender to and integration into white supremacist capitalist heteropatriarchal ways of relating to...

I've been thinking about collapse for at least 5 years now. It's a formitive concept for me, how I understand the world we live in. I think as time goes on, as history plays its course, collapse will spread. It is very definitive in the peripheries, but not as clear in the imperial cores. Collapse creates uncertainty and new possibilites. Although that means some good new stuff can come from it, i...

I sat with israa abd el-fattah to talk about the Palestine Watch Party, a series of online watch parties I've beeng curating and hosting over the last few months. israa has been a long-time participant and our conversation about the space both gives an overview of our experiences with the watch parties as well as gives an insight into how those conversations and discussions usually go - the space...

Tweet anything about Syrians in Lebanon and they'll appear. Say that Lebanese people are Arabs and you'll hear them bark. Look at the history of the failed colonial project that is Lebanon, and you'll see them everywhere. This is an obviously provocative title, but an honest one; many don't even hide it. They're not just strange characters, but very dangerous political actors whose ideologies and...

The genocidal violence in Gaza is escalating and so is the response by students around the world. -- -- Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/firethesetimes Tip Jar: https://buymeacoffee.com/poldep

A Clockwork Orange is not about human nature, it's about European fascism. This is at least my reading of it. I've been thinking a lot about it as we're seeing the European centre shift drastically to the right in defence of the ongoing Israeli genocide in Palestine. In this episode I share my analysis and reading of A Clockwork Orange that I think illuminates some terrifying and bizarre aspects o...

I talk with one of my favourite internet people Dana Saleh. She's a Palestinian comedian based in Montreal who I've followed for years, and always knew we would get along great - and we did! We talk about comedy, Palestine, liberation, grief, and everything in between. I hope you enjoy this episode. Dana's Socials: Twitter TikTok Instagram Support this podcast: Patreon: https://patreon.com/firethe...

The real extent of the Al-Shifa Massacre are still being uncovered. Every day new mass graves. Every day new horrors. All the while the genocide continues unabated. The white phosphorus is raining down on South Lebanon. Settler violence is accelerating. I don't know how to contain myself. But we can't look away, we can't stop talking. -- -- -- Tip me at: https://buymeacoffee.com/poldep Keep This B...

Fascist gangs are roaming the streets looking for Syrians. It's terrifying and needs to be stopped. I talk about this recent surge of violence, its short history, but also I give a bit of a primer on Lebanon - which turns out to be incredibly difficult to do. I'll probably do more like these cause the urgent situation calls for it, but also to elaborate on some of the stuff I touch on here. *Corre...

Nada is one of my favourite people. She's funny, interesting, unique - basically a person whose presence in my life I miss so much. We talk about Beirut, Gaza, her coverage of the war in Lebanon, and so much more in between. I sincerely hope you are enjoying these interviews because I've really enjoyed recording them - insofar as I'm 'enjoying' anything these days. -- -- TipJar: https://www.buymea...

This is an interview with Sudanese writer, editor, and commentator Sara Al-Hassan. We talk about her writing and coverage of the current war in Sudan, the frustrating hashtag discourse, and feelings of grief at the mass atrocities in Sudan, Gaza, and beyond. We talk about other things as well. Note: Interview episodes like this are gonna be longer than my solo episodes. I hope you all still apprec...

No words feel like they live up to the current moment. We all need to do more, especially those who can and are waiting for something to push them. The warning bells couldn't be louder. Act now. Before it's too late. TipJar https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poldep Instagram https://www.instagram.com/politically_depressed/ Sign-Up Link Watch Party https://forms.gle/zHKPhWfYGw1uQNMM7

Vulnerability is strength. Existence is resistance. Justice will prevail. What meaning do sayings like these hold in our world of collapse and crisis? With mass atrocities across our region, I wonder about how people hold on and struggle against despair. Tip Jar: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poldep Mentions: https://unicornriot.ninja/revolution-in-every-country/ https://shop.mangalmedia.net/produc...

Left or right looks pretty much the same to those on the bottom. This episode is more analysis than introspection, a brief departure from previous episodes. I'll be moving between the two from now on, especially as I continue to make more episodes sharing my thoughts and feelings about this absolutely f*cked up world. Tip Jar: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poldep

And it haunts me. I don't know if I'll ever forget it. But I had to talk about it. This is a really stressful episode. I'm unable to hold back my grief. So please don't listen unless you feel ready and able to. TW: Description of de*d body. https://www.instagram.com/politically_depressed/

I interview my favourite writer Lina Mounzer. We talk about grief, community, and being in Lebanon at a time of war and during the on-going genocide in Palestine. This is a shortened version for public release. The full interview will be released on our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/firethesetimes Follow Lina on Twitter: @warghetti Check out The Markaz Review at www.themarkaz.org - an arts...

This is a tactic. Infiltrators, saboteurs, and opportunists. We should all be vigilant of those actively damaging and/or co-opting activist spaces. I recount this story as a cautionary tale but also as a detailed account to help others spot similar suspicious behaviour. ** Oh! I didn't mention that someone did snap a photo of him at the end, so we can spread it and make sure he's never welcomed to...

The short answer is sort of. The long answer is it depends. But as we continue to protest and organize for a ceasefire in Palestine, and for an end to white-supremacist, imperialist, capitalist, patriarchy (yes it is one of those podcasts), we need to really think hard about what tactics and strategies we're relying on, and why. I share my reflections on this as well as debut my world famous zizek...

Israel attacks Rafah, an escalation in their genocide. Israel attacks Lebanon, an escalation in their collective punishment. The West continues to applaud, although now with some moans, an escalation in their complicity. Those murdered will not be the last. This violence, embodying the death of humanity, will spread and will destroy us all unless it is stopped. To support this podcast: https://www...

Because we are. Whether from the grief of the on-going genocide in Gaza, military aggressions against Lebanon and Syria, the months-long war in Sudan, or the daily violence of economic/political collapse (the list goes on), we are not okay. For those of us experiencing casual white supremacy in 'the West', holding that pain has been difficult and frustrating. I share some personal reflections as I...

We are broken; the living dead. It's becoming hard to put words to it all. Yet I still make my attempt, despite the immense grief and anger. Al-Jazeera Interview with Moataz Azaiza: https://youtu.be/BQSiGbzD4yo?si=Y2W6CPVFPxbDEqjm Middle East Eye Interview with Plestia Alaqad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GBaNDGCh4I

I attended the "Defend Democracy" protest in Vienna. What I witnessed disturbed me.

Is anyone else talking to themselves lately? Anyone else randomly blurting out sounds to express their immense grief and frustration while avoiding a complete mental break down? What T.V show are you binging to bridge the gaps between work, organizing for a ceasefire, and bearing witness to the ongoing genocide? I think about these things out loud in this episode, in a hopefully coherent and inter...