CounterPunch Radio

This week on CounterPunch Radio, Eric Draitser sits down with Yoav Litvin and Ilan Pappé to discuss their new book, Wired to Steal: Zionism and the Shaping of the Western Mind, just published by Interlink Books. Wired to Steal is a powerful blend of investigative narrative, history, and behavioral neuroscience. Cutting through and dismantling propaganda, it exposes how the ruling classes of settler colonial projects hijack the human brain’s fear circuitry, systems of addiction, empathy pathways, and identity mechanisms to make oppression feel normal, even righteous. Yoav Litvin is a doctor of neuroscience, award-winning photographer, and writer. Ilan Pappé is recognized globally as one of the world’s foremost historians of Israel/Palestine. He is a professor of history at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies and Director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter. You can order Wired to Steal directly from Interlink Books. The post Wired to Steal w/ Yoav Litvin and Ilan Pappé appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

In this episode of Counterpunch Radio, Rebecca Maria Goldschmidt speaks with Nasser Mashni, Palestinian-Australian activist and president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network. The son of a generation of Palestinians displaced by the ’48 Nakba, Mashni shares stories of growing up in the Palestine Liberation movement in the Australian diaspora and the growth of the movement since the 1970s. Unphased by relentless smear campaigns and lawsuits, Mashni emphasizes the breadth and depth of the movement, which unites Aboriginal Australians, Jews, unionists, queers, churchgoers, and others to advocate for Palestinian rights and challenge Australian complicity in the Gaza genocide. The post Unphazed w/ Nasser Mashni of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

This week on CounterPunch Radio, Erik Wallenberg and Joshua Frank talk with Cole Rockarts about their new book Fired Up About Unions, published by Between the Lines. Cole is a labor educator, organizer, and writer. They have worked in public- and private-sector unions in Canada and the US since 2016. Cole will be kicking off their book tour in Los Angeles at Skylight Books on November 5. Pre-order a copy of Fired Up About Unions from AK Press. The post Fired Up About Unions w/ Cole Rockarts appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

This is part two of our series with Palestinian solidarity activists from Malaysia. Dr. Fauziah Hasan and Azra Banu of the Asia Pacific Women’s Coalition for Al Quds and Palestine discuss the importance of consisent, coalitional efforts to support Palestinian women. Dr. Fauziah sailed on the Women’s Boat to Gaza in 2016 and again on the 2025 Freedom Flotilla that was abducted by Israel. Azra participated in a humanitarian land convoy in 2010 that drove from London to Gaza, and went on a second mission to Gaza in 2012. As mothers and grandmothers, they emphasize the passing on of intergenerational activist knowledge and the necessity of nurturing a generation of young people committed to Palestinian Liberation in the Asia-Pacific. The post Nurturing a Free Palestine w/ Dr. Fauziah Hasan and Azra Banu appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Rebecca Maria Goldschmidt speaks with Norma Hashim and Dr. Nazari Ismail from the Hashim Sani Center for Palestine Studies at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur in this two-part podcast with solidarity activists from Malaysia. Hashim and Dr. Ismail share reflections on almost two decades of grassroots organizing with BDS Malaysia and Viva Palestina Malaysia. They discuss the recent closure of The Network School, an experimental project in “tech zionism”, and other successful campaigns to divest from Israeli companies. The Malaysian consumer boycott of Starbucks led to the closure of over 45+ locations. Their McDonald’s boycott sparked a viral legal battle, and the struggle continues against complicit corporations like Google, Amazon, Caterpillar, and resource extraction companies that serve the Pentagon, including the Australian rare earth miner Lynas. Alongside their advocacy work, Hashim shares updates from daily relief work to support communities in Gaza, who continue to survive in the unbearable living conditions. The post People Power w/ Norma Hashim & Dr. Nazari Ismail of BDS Malaysia appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

This week, journalist and author Dave Zirin joins Erik Wallenberg and Joshua Frank to discuss his new biography of the late, great Howard Zinn. The book, The People’s Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn, chronicles the inspiring life of one of our greatest radical historians. Dave is embarking on a national tour in support of the book; find out if he’ll be in a city near you. The post Howard Zinn’s Outsized Life w/ Dave Zirin appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

This week, Egyptian journalist, blogger, photographer, and author Hossam el-Hamalawy joins CounterPunch’s Eric Draitser to discuss his new book Counter-Revolution in Egypt: Sisi’s New Republic, published by Verso. The conversation explores modern Egyptian history and how the state developed into its current form, with much of the focus on the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 and the events that followed. El-Hamalawy blends an analysis of Egyptian political economy, military history, sociology, and social and labor struggle with his deep knowledge of Egyptian politics, society, and culture to provide a sophisticated Marxist analysis of Egypt yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The post Counter-Revolution in Egypt w/ Hossam el-Hamalawy appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

On this episode of CounterPunch Radio, Erik Wallenberg and Joshua Frank talk with journalist and author Tara Lohan about her new book, Undammed: Freeing Rivers and Bringing Communities to Life. Tara has been working as an environmental journalist and editor for more than 15 years. Her work has been published by The Nation, the American Prospect, Salon, High Country News, Grist, The Revelator, Adventure Journal, and others. She is also the editor of two books on the global water crisis. The post Freeing Rivers w/ Tara Lohan appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

In this episode of CounterPunch Radio, Rebecca Maria Goldschmidt speaks with Seungjoon Lee, a maritime activist and filmmaker based on Jeju Island. Having recently returned from attempting to break the siege on Gaza with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and being kidnapped by the IOF in international waters, Lee shares his thoughts on the radical possibilities for future maritime direct action. They discuss the current situation on Jeju, where activist communities continue their struggle against militarization and development in Korea, including the world’s fourth-largest weapons company, Hanwha, known as the “Lockheed Martin of Asia.” Seungjoon emphasizes the necessity of an activist practice grounded in the spirituality of place and relationality, and the possibilities in centering water as a collective strategy for our movements. The post Sailing To You: On the Possibilities for Maritime Direct Action w/ Seungjoon Lee appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Award-winning journalist and author Karim Zidan joins CounterPunch to discuss his work at SportsPolitika, where he covers the intersection of politics and sports, money and power. Host Eric Draitser chats with Zidan about the dark side of the World Cup, from its fascist roots to its decades-long support for right-wing dictatorships. They also cover Zidan’s early work covering the rise of MMA and the far-right fascist culture that has grown up around it. From UFC at the White House to Saudi money buying off Egyptian football clubs, Zidan helps shine a light on the real stories behind the sports and entertainment. The post A World Cup of Politics w/ Karim Zidan appeared first on CounterPunch.org.