All That To Say

For today’s chat, I speak with Yair - also known on Twitter as Jerusalem Yahoodi - about topics pertaining to Mizrahi Jewish experience in the Middle East, issues in Israel/Palestine pertaining to the media and weapons industry, and his time working in the peace and dialogue industry. I say this almost every episode, but I learned a lot from Yair! Yair is based in Jerusalem and works in the music and education industry. He is currently working on a project “News from Palestine” to give Hebrew speakers access to Palestinian and Arab news. Follow Yair on Twitter at @Looking4Gavin. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit milatakes.substack.com/subscribe

For today’s chat, I spoke with Guillaume about his work on the migration debate. Guillaume takes a fascinating angle: instead of focusing on common issues like open borders or building walls, his work focuses on the role one’s home community plays in one’s identity formation, and what obligations that generates upon leaving said community. Guillaume outlines his argument and we discuss where it sits in relation to contemporary migration debates. The article we discuss is here.Guillaume Bogiaris is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of West Alabama. He has recently authored the book Machiavelli’s Platonic Problems. Guillaume’s research and other media appearances can be found here.Follow Guillaume on Twitter at @gbogiaris This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit milatakes.substack.com/subscribe

For today’s chat, I spoke with Charlie about his run for Morris County Freeholder, and how he ran for office as a socialist in one of America’s wealthiest and Republican-dominant areas. Charlie and I discuss the differences in changes one can make at a local vs federal level, political compromise, and more.Charlie Baranski is a progressive organizer and former candidate for New Jersey’s county government. Follow him on Twitter at @CharlieBaranski This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit milatakes.substack.com/subscribe

For today’s chat, Sam comes on to talk about the NATO bombings of Yugoslavia in light of its 22nd anniversary. Sam discusses what was behind the bombings, their impacts, and what lessons we can learn.Sam is the editor of Twink Revolution and co-host of the Twink Revolution podcast. He is also the creator of the Gaylag Archipelago Series, which explores LGBT life under communism. Follow Sam on Twitter at @twinkrevsam This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit milatakes.substack.com/subscribe

For today’s chat, I speak with Alex about his new piece on “intersectional imperialism” and the use of progressivism to sell war. Alex Rubinstein is an independent journalist currently based in Mexico City. He has shared live coverage of social movements in the United States including Black Lives Matter, Standing Rock, Charlottesville, the inauguration protests against Pres. Trump, and from inside the besieged Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, DC, and has published reporting with Mint Press News and The Grayzone.Alex’s new article and Substack can be found here.Subscribe to Alex’s Substack: https://realalexrubi.substack.comFollow Alex on Twitter @RealAlexRubi This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit milatakes.substack.com/subscribe

For today’s chat, I speak with Perpetual Self-Optimizer for a Christian perspective on issues within Syria in light of Biden bombing it and its re-entry into the news. We also discuss how the Syria discourse has impacted the way we view the media and US/Canadian progressives.PSO is currently writing a piece interviewing his family about their experiences during the war, which will be out soon - look out for it!Perpetual Self-Optimizer is a writer and co-host of the cultural criticism podcast, System of Systems. Follow him on Twitter at @_selfoptimizer and check out some of his recent writing here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit milatakes.substack.com/subscribe

For today’s chat, I speak with Katya about what exactly is going on with Alexei Navalny in Russia and how our media has failed to properly tell the story. We also talk about the depiction of Russia generally in the media post-Russiagate, and more.Katya Kazbek is a bilingual Russian/English writer, translator, and editor of Supamodu. Follow Katya on Twitter at @kazbekRead Katya’s article/interview on Navalny here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit milatakes.substack.com/subscribe

For today’s chat, I speak with Akiva about his new article in which he makes the case for legalizing all drugs. We discuss two different common justifications for legalization; one from a point of harm reduction and the other from a point of bodily autonomy. We also talk about potential difficulties and concerns on the path to legalization. Akiva Malamet is a writer and graduate student in philosophy at Queen’s University. He is a new contributing writer to The Catalyst and has also published work with Libertarianism.org, Liberal Currents, and others.Akiva’s article, “It’s Time to Legalize Drugs: All of Them” can be found here.Follow Akiva on Twitter at @akiva_malametOther relevant links mentioned in the episode:Hari on the War on DrugsDr. Hart’s memoir on addictionJulia Galef’s straw vulcan talkGlenn Greenwald on PortugalNixon, racism, and the War on DrugsSullum on drug use as a human right This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit milatakes.substack.com/subscribe

For today’s chat, I speak with Mary Jo about some fascinating rhetorical issues in feminism: is it actually more feminist to admit truth to stereotypical women’s vices? Can the left and right converge on women’s issues sometimes? Why have the same debates been happening for centuries? What’s the deal with modern academic feminism? Mary Jo has intriguing thoughts on this, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!Mary Jo MacDonald is a PhD student in political theory that also does commentary on local Nova Scotia politics. Follow Mary Jo on Twitter here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit milatakes.substack.com/subscribe

For today’s chat, I talk with River Page about the concerning state of social media and tech platforms, the weaponization of identity to break solidarity, and one of my favourite things to talk about: the abuses of standpoint theory. Hope you enjoy!River Page is a writer working for Twink Revolution. You may know him for his writing on the new gay sex panic, progressive derision of the poor, and more. Check out River’s articles here. Follow River on Twitter at @gayliaronline.-Note: there are a few audio issues at some points but they don’t last too long. Sorry about that! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit milatakes.substack.com/subscribe