BONUS: Smothering Heights w/ Susannah Grossman Wolfe

We go through different theories of WHY the Iran war is happening: ZOG/Epstein, Venezualizing Iran, Destabilizing the Gulf, Neo-Neoconservativism, immamentalizing the evangelical eschaton, or just because they canFor the full episode, support the show at http://patreon.com/thiswreckageKharg theory: https://www.eenews.net/articles/the-oil-island-that-could-break-iran/https://x.com/guy_laron/status/2030262780389937167Uniparty Theory: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/trump-iran-regime-change-democrats-chuck-schumer-midterms?utm_source=publication-searchhttps://responsiblestatecraft.org/iran-nuclear-2672345081/Armageddon Theory: https://theintercept.com/2026/03/05/iran-war-end-times-christian/Klip Theory: https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/why-we-struck-iranMike Prysner on mobilization: https://x.com/MikePrysner/status/2030106988265578976Song: Discharge - Why? (Reprise) & Visions of War

To access the entire conversation, all of our bonus content and more become a supporter at www.patreon.com/thiswreckageThe boys are back to discuss the latest war in West Asia. How should socialists view this recent outbreak of violence? What role does Zionism have in US foreign policy? Is the tail wagging the dog or has Dr Frankenstein lost control of his creation?In the fun half we discuss American Bundism and its failure, what role artificial intelligence is playing in the imperial military, and how the US military has entered such dire straights.

Our gothic romance correspondent Susannah returns to chat about Emerald Fennell's kinkified adaptation of the Brontë classic, Wuthering Heights!For the full episode, Discord access, and all bonus material, support the show at http://patreon.com/thiswreckage

For the full episode, Discord access, and all bonus material, support the show at http://patreon.com/thiswreckageIn part two of our news episode we chat with Varn about his DSA organizing in SLC, the Board of Peace and its plans for Gaza, and read a scene report from a Nick Land/Curtis Yarvin meet-and-greet in SF.

News ep! We talk striking nurses, MLBPA drama, SCOTUS vs POTUS, the changing tactics of ICE, looksmaxxing, and more with our cool Social Studies teacher, future governor of New York, the Sigma Marxist, C. Derick Varn!In part two of our new episode we chat with Varn about his DSA organizing in SLC, the Board of Peace and its plans for Gaza, and read a scene report from a Nick Land/Curtis Yarvin meet-and-greet in SF. For the full episode, Discord access, and all bonus material, support the show at http://patreon.com/thiswreckageVarn Vlog on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VarnVlogand Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/varnvlog/postsShow notes:NYC Nurse strike ends after considerable drama between union and r&f: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/nyregion/nyc-nurses-strike-reach-deal.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/nyregion/nyc-nurses-strike-union.html https://labornotes.org/2026/02/nurse-strikes-focus-moves-manhattans-richest-hospital-complex-contracts-settle-elsewhereTariffs: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/business/economy/tariffs-supreme-court-global-busines-reaction.html?smid=nytcore-ios-shareEssay from MPLS anarchists claiming no victory with ICE drawdown: https://illwill.com/proto-politics-in-purgatory(follow up to this phil neel piece: https://illwill.com/lies )ICE strategy moving to suburbs: https://sahanjournal.com/immigration/ice-minnesota-suburbs-operation-metro-surge/SONG: The Star-Spangled Banner - Anime Opening Ver.

Abigail Susik is an art historian, vice president of the International Society for the Study of Surrealism, and editor of Resurgence! Jonathan Leake, Radical Surrealism, and the Resurgence Youth Movement, 1964-1967, a compilation of publications by a surrealist sixties' anarchist group in NYC.For this Armed Love episode, we challenge ourselves to understand the political potency of the interwar avant-garde art movements (Dada, Futurism, Surrealism), their resurgence within the sixties New Left, and the potentials for avant-garde revolutionary praxis to confront political challenges today.For all bonus episodes and Discord access, support the show at http://patreon.com/thiswreckageTJ Clark works mentioned: https://archive.org/details/imageofpeoplegus0000clar_q5r5 https://archive.org/details/farewelltoideaep0000tjclAndre Breton's surrealist manifestos: https://monoskop.org/images/2/2f/Breton_Andre_Manifestoes_of_Surrealism.pdfSI's 1957 text mentioning surrealism: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/guy-debord-report-on-the-construction-of-situationsResurgence Youth Movement's Guerilla Manifesto: https://illwill.com/guerilla-manifestoArchive of Rebel Worker journal: https://libcom.org/article/rebel-worker-journalSchizofeminism: https://www.schizofeminism.com/Iraqi (not Iranian) artist mentioned at the end: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haifa_Zangana Abigail also recommends David Roediger and Robin DG KelleyMusic: George Antheil - Ballet mècanique, part 1

Sean and Varn tackle the important question regarding the release of the much-vaunted 'Epstein Files': which ones of 'our faves' might be implicated? How do we avoid the 'socialism of fools' after this and Gaza? What does the Epstein story tell us about the rot at the heart of our ruling class? What do the files tell us about the absolute state of barbarism we currently live in and must find some way to work ourselves out of?N.B. at one point in the main episode Sean, in reference to diversity within Judaism, mentions the Satmar Hasidic community in NYC but neglects to mention why he brought it up which is because they one of the main sects that rejects Zionism on religious principle. To listen to the paywalled section where Sean and Varn elaborate more on these questions become a patron at www.patreon.com/thiswreckage and to watch the video recording of the whole thing become a patron of Varn at www.patreon.com/varnvlogThose interested in information about the Independent Labor Club can go to ILClabor.com and sign up.If you are in the Philadelphia area the ILC is having a first meetup for the Greater Philly chapter at Wissahickon Brewing Company on American Street Saturday, February 21st from 7pm to 8:30pm. For more info you can email ILCofPhilly at gmail dot com. Hope to see you there!Song: Gary Numan - This Wreckage

The hosts of Blowback Podcast report back from Colombia and Cuba!For an extended version of this episode, support the show at http://patreon.com/thiswreckageIn Bogota, they attended a conference of the Progressive International that drafted a declaration for countering the Donroe Doctrine. And in Havana, they witnessed immediate results of Trump's full blockade of oil imports, leaving the island with only 3 weeks of fuel before the power grid fails.Along the way we talk about various forms of ice protests in New York, the lack of internationalist power among the (North) American left, the twisting road of recent US-Cuban foreign policy, the afterlife of the Pink Tide, and some tips on visiting Cuba while you still can.Show notes: Rubio seeks regime change in Cuba: https://www.bellyofthebeastcuba.com/rubio-no-end-to-cuba-sanctions-without-regime-changeThe Progressive International's San Carlos Declaration: https://progressive.international/wire/2026-01-25-nuestra-amrica/en/Trump says US in talks with Cuban leadership: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/01/us-is-in-talks-with-cuban-leadership-says-trump-after-blockade-threatsRussia supplying air defenses? https://www.defensenews.com/global/the-americas/2026/02/02/russian-cargo-plane-arrives-in-cuba-echoing-frantic-caracas-buildup/Song: Celina González - Décimas de la Revolución

Gavin and Hope from the Chicago chapter of the Independent Labor Club join Sean to discuss national news and local chapter news in Chicagoland.Join us for a conversation about the recent events (pig murders) in Minneapolis, what it means to organize against the state, how not to become fodder in blue vs red politics and what autonomous class self-activity looks like amid general crisis.For access to the bonus portion of this episode become a supporter of our workClick on the link for information and to sign up for the Independent Labor Club of North America: www.ilclabor.comFor info on upcoming events from Chicago ILCCheck out Gavin's history podcast: West Bank Robbery

Sean and Andy are joined by Connor Mulhern, lead researcher at the Reactionary International Research Consortium, and Henry Wallace, head honcho at the New International Magazine and Franco-American raconteur, to discuss the networks of power and influence behind the rise of right populist movements across the globe. How might this reactionary global influence network compare to the unsuccessful 20th century attempt to create a fascist international or the relative successes of the Mount Pelerin Society later on? Where does an increasingly reactionary Silicon Valley fit in? What is the connection between Trumpism and the burgeoning European post-fascist movement? And how might they be confronted and defeated without the working class allying itself with the avatars of a dying liberal order like Keir Starmer and Kaja Kallas?https://reactionary.international/cases/ https://www.newintermag.com/washington-is-no-ally/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/opinion/national-security-strategy-us-europe.htmlTo listen to the full episode and all our wonderful bonus content become a supporter of our show at http://patreon.com/thiswreckageSong: JPEG Mafia - Vulgar Display of Power