Plan or Perish: The Limits of Progressive Reform in the Age of Money Capital (ft. Steve Maher)

We're joined by Steve Maher, co-author with Scott Aquanno of The Fall and Rise of American Finance: From J.P. Morgan to BlackRock (Verso, 2024). The book argues that financialization did not hollow out the "real" economy or shrink the state. Instead, it intensified competitive discipline to maximize efficiency, profits, and the exploitation of labor, backed by an increasingly authoritarian state. That means reforming finance won't get us somewhere different. There is no postwar golden age to return to. So what do we do? Tune in to find out...Become a supporter of this show and get B-Sides and other exclusive content: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hwdipod Substack: https://hwdipod.substack.com/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Today we're joined by (Dr.) Danny Bessner, a professor of international studies and co-host of the American Prestige podcast, about the legacy of Cold War liberalism, its influence on US foreign policy, and what a democratic socialist approach to international affairs might entail. We dive into the contradictions of elite-driven policies, the role of class power, and the challenges faced by a potential progressive presidency in navigating global military and economic systems.Become a supporter of this show and get B-Sides and other exclusive content: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hwdipod Substack: https://hwdipod.substack.com/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Get access to the entire episode by becoming a sponsor member today: Patreon: https://patreon.com/hwdipod Substack: https://hwdipod.substack.comShow NotesWe sit down with political geographer and author Matt Huber to dig into his book Climate Change as Class War: Building Socialism on a Warming Planet (Verso Books, 2022). Huber opens not with doom, but with a power analysis: the climate movement is losing because it's been organized around the wrong class. He breaks down how the professional-managerial class — NGOs, scientists, carbon pricing advocates — has dominated climate politics while ignoring the working class, which has both the numbers and the structural leverage to actually force change. Drawing on Marx's concept of the "hidden abode of production," Huber argues that climate responsibility is concentrated in the capitalist class that owns and profits from carbon-intensive systems — not diffused across individual consumers. The carbon footprint, after all, was a concept invented by BP.From there we get into why degrowth is a political dead end, how the Green New Deal was co-opted by means-tested identity politics and NGO capture before it could become a genuine working-class program, and why decarbonization is fundamentally an electricity problem — one that should be led by the skilled, unionized workers who actually know how these systems work. Huber makes the case for the rank-and-file strategy, points to the UAW reform caucus and the nascent CREW inside the IBEW as proof of concept, and closes with a simple directive: stop treating climate as a single-issue movement, rebuild the labor movement, and win power first.How We Do It is a socialist podcast focused on strategy, class power, and the political challenges facing the left today. Subscribe, share, and support the show. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Get access to the entire episode by becoming a sponsor member today: Patreon: https://patreon.com/hwdipod Substack: https://hwdipod.substack.comShow NotesWe sit down with political geographer and author Matt Huber to dig into his book Climate Change as Class War: Building Socialism on a Warming Planet (Verso Books, 2022). Huber opens not with doom, but with a power analysis: the climate movement is losing because it's been organized around the wrong class. He breaks down how the professional-managerial class — NGOs, scientists, carbon pricing advocates — has dominated climate politics while ignoring the working class, which has both the numbers and the structural leverage to actually force change. Drawing on Marx's concept of the "hidden abode of production," Huber argues that climate responsibility is concentrated in the capitalist class that owns and profits from carbon-intensive systems — not diffused across individual consumers. The carbon footprint, after all, was a concept invented by BP.From there we get into why degrowth is a political dead end, how the Green New Deal was co-opted by means-tested identity politics and NGO capture before it could become a genuine working-class program, and why decarbonization is fundamentally an electricity problem — one that should be led by the skilled, unionized workers who actually know how these systems work. Huber makes the case for the rank-and-file strategy, points to the UAW reform caucus and the nascent CREW inside the IBEW as proof of concept, and closes with a simple directive: stop treating climate as a single-issue movement, rebuild the labor movement, and win power first.How We Do It is a socialist podcast focused on strategy, class power, and the political challenges facing the left today. Subscribe, share, and support the show. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this week's episode, Adam talks with Jacobin editor and NYC DSA member Nick French about the rise of democratic socialism at the municipal level. Using Zohran Mamdani’s political trajectory as a focal point, they explore how socialist organizers are navigating the shift from insurgent campaigns to the realities of governing. The conversation digs into the evolution of the Democratic Socialists of America, changing electoral strategy on the left, and the tension between movement politics and institutional power. Along the way, they examine the promises — and contradictions — of “municipal socialism,” the role of grassroots organizing, and what it really takes to turn bold demands into durable political change. To hear the entirety of this episode, become a patron of HWDI at https://www.patreon.com/hwdipod

In this week's episode, Adam talks with Jacobin editor and NYC DSA member Nick French about the rise of democratic socialism at the municipal level. Using Zohran Mamdani’s political trajectory as a focal point, they explore how socialist organizers are navigating the shift from insurgent campaigns to the realities of governing.The conversation digs into the evolution of the Democratic Socialists of America, changing electoral strategy on the left, and the tension between movement politics and institutional power. Along the way, they examine the promises — and contradictions — of “municipal socialism,” the role of grassroots organizing, and what it really takes to turn bold demands into durable political change.To hear the entirety of this episode, become a patron of HWDI at https://www.patreon.com/hwdipod ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this week's B-Side, I continue my conversation with Daniel Wortel-London, author of ˆThe Menace of Prosperity: New York City and the Struggle for Economic Development, 1865–1981. We discuss what he would do if he could give advice to Mayor Mamdani: public banking, developing an inside-outside strategy, linking up with social movements and much more. We discuss DSA, co-ops, and all kinds of policies and strategies being utilized by democratic socialists worldwide. This a free teaser of the full episode. To support this project and get access to our full back catalog of B-Sides, become a patron today: http://www.patreon.com/hwdipod ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this inaugural episode of How We Do It, I chat with Daniel Wortel-London, author of "The Menace of Prosperity," about the intersection of economic policies and social movements in New York City's history from 1865 to 1981. We discuss the significance of understanding fiscal policy for socialists and explore historical moments that shaped economic development, including the fiscal crisis of the 1970s. Daniel emphasizes the need to redefine fiscal imaginaries to empower citizens in shaping equitable economic narratives. ******************** Support this project by becoming a patron and get access to our weekly B-Side and other subscriber content: http://www.patreon.com/HWDIpod ******************** Chapters: 0:05 Welcome to How We Do It 0:54 Introducing Daniel Wortel-London 2:15 Understanding Fiscal Policy 6:35 The Excitement of New York City DSA 7:00 The Menace of Prosperity 12:33 The Growth Machine of New York 14:59 Henry George's Vision 22:01 The Rise of Public Ownership 23:58 The Producer's Mindset 30:58 A Call to Action 33:59 The Future of Socialist Leadership 40:21 Public Housing and Its Legacy 51:56 Reflections on the 1970s Crisis 54:06 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

On this episode of the Parrot Room on Zero Squared, Adam and Doug talk about the "Post-Left," why the left needs therapy (Okay, Adam said that and I'm not sure Doug agrees) and much, much more. p.s. get therapy. Become a patron of DPS to hear the entirety of this episode: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits Support Zero Books here: www.patreon.com/zerobooks

Adam goes on Zero Squared Podcast, hosted by Doug Lain, to lay out his case for why Bernie Sanders was important to support and they end up talking a lot about some dusty, nerdy shit -- from Marx to the Second International to the New Deal and beyond. Support Zero Book Podcast here: www.patreon.com/zerobooks Become a supporter of DPS on patreon here: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits