DS 53: Bhaskar Sunkara

My guest is a dangerous political extremist who poses a legitimate threat to the United States government. Josh answers your Q&A, responds to listener submitted questions and lays out some of the media strategy for this program. This is a wide ranging episode that touches on everything from fitness to political theory. We tackle the new algo-dynamics of post-woke platforms, online culture and give some background on the NYC art world.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

Josh gives some insights on Naomi’s Klein’s new book. We discuss the significance of end times theology and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. We explore the many factions now emerging on the political left.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

My guest is Naomi Klein, an author, activist and professor of Climate Justice at the University of British Columbia. She joins me to discuss her new book, co-authored with Astra Taylor, “End Times Fascism”.We explore the ideology and factions of today’s far right: “religious, tech and ethno-nationalist endtimers”. Each group is mobilized around similarly apocalyptic themes; eschatology, singularity and climate crisis. These factions now join together as a nationalist bloc that preps the state bunker in anticipation of the end of the world.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

Greg and I dive deeper into the topic of institutions —and the biggest one of all— the catholic church. We explore the role of theology and the power of belief in secular society, trad caths and much more. Plus Greg says a bunch of things (in Minecraft) that would definitely get us banned on YouTube if the main episode isn’t blocked already.

My returning guest is Jreg an artist and YouTuber. We discuss extremely online politics and its influence on the recent wave of political violence and assassinations. Today, we find ourselves in an era of “hyper-politics” -- where social movements are led by hashtags and virality more than institutions or organizations. Is there no pressure valve to release the mounting crises?You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

We discuss NSPM-7, the socialist approach to national borders, our final victory and the lumpen mass of criminal pedophiles unleashed by the Trump administration. Some of these answers might surprise you. With all this talk of the DSA, we hear a lot about “democracy” but what about “socialism”?You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

My guest is Brace Belden, a co-host of TrueAnon. This episode marks the 2 year anniversary of Doomscroll. We explore the recent socialist wins and to look ahead toward 2028. We discuss AOC, the anti-social tendencies of Woke 1 and the new factional splits tearing apart the right. Later, we discuss Brace’s avant-garde art project. Our conversation covers the strange history of the American left. We ask: what does socialism mean today?You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

Kathryn Paige Harden is a behavioral geneticist and Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She leads the Developmental Behavior Genetics lab and acts as co-director of the Texas Twin Project. We discuss the blank slate thesis, the crisis of liberalism, morality, evolution, and theology. These taboo topics have taken on new significance in the reactionary environment of online culture.Kathryn Paige Harden is the author of “Original Sin: On the Genetics of Vice, the Problem of Blame and the Future of Forgiveness” (2025) and “The Genetic Lottery” (2021).X: https://x.com/kph3kYou can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

An extra-long bonus episode to explore: class dealignment, the (very) early years of DSA, the rise of Swedish social democracy, and the historical differences between communism and socialism.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

My guest is Bhaskar Sunkara, the founder of Jacobin Magazine he president of The Nation and the publisher of Catalyst: Journal. He is a former vice-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America.Bhaskar Sunkara is a co-author of “The Blueprint: How Socialism can Work in the Real World”, published by Verso Books. We discuss the history of the 20th century and the possibilities for a more egalitarian future.This program is part of the 82nd Whitney Biennial, curated by Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer, recorded live at the Whitney Museum in New York City.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella