Red Flag Radio

The Victorian wing of the Australian Socialist Party are about to make history by running a candidate in every seat in a state election. Jasmine Duff, the VS candidate for Footscray, joins Chloe to talk about the campaign.

Australian politics are at a turning point. Pauline Hanson's One Nation has broken through the two-party system to become a serious electoral contender, including in the upcoming Victorian elections. We talk about Pauline Hanson's fascistic Press Club speech, the factors in Australian politics that have contributed to her rise, and how the left can understand and fight the far right. Further Readings "One Nation needs to be fought, not just analysed" - Red Flag "Hanson’s shadow looms over Victoria: a serious socialist campaign can galvanise a fightback" by Omar Hassan

Stalinism equates socialism/communism with state-controlled industry and a one party dictatorship. We reckon nothing could be further from genuine socialism and Marxism. Unfortuntely, this zombie idea from the 20th century has risen from the dead in the past few years and is gaining popularity among left wing people. In this ep, we debunk neo-Stalinism's main arguments: that the left needs to support "actually existing socialism", that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and that Western Marxists and even Western workers can't fight for socialism. Further reading: "The Marxist alternative to fake communism" by April Holcombe in Red Flag "The Fraud of Stalinism" by D Taylor in Red Flag

Since Labor's budget dropped we've heard a chorus of whingers and sooks from the business class (though they call themselves 'founders' and 'entrepreneurs') about having a few of their tax dodges taken away. In this episode we explain why they should stfu, why Labor can barely defend their own measures, and how much further socialists want to go in taxing the rich (and expropriating them). We also explain the Marxist theory of the middle classes. We thought it'd be pertinent given all this petty bourgeois whining. Further reading: "Business community has a big sook" by Sarah Garnham in Red Flag "So much budget bluster" by Tom Bramble in Red Flag

Chloe and Emma discuss identity politics, the dominant framework on the left for opposing oppression. They debunk ideas like privilege theory, autonomous organising and centreing "lived experience",

Emma and Chloe discuss the appalling US-Israeli war on Iran. They explain why Trump has started this war, the Australian government's response, and the recent sordid history of US imperialism. "Why the US is attacking Iran" by Tom Bramble in Red Flag

Emma and Chloe talk about the meaning of the Epstein files and what they say about the way the rich and powerful rule over us. In the main segment we discuss One Nation and the intense Islamophobic atmosphere in Australia right now. We explain the realignment of the Coalition under new Liberal leader Angus Taylor and the concerningly high polls of Hanson's One Nation.

Chloe and Emma talk about the police riot in Sydney orchestrated by Chris Minns. The NSW government sent 3,500 police to bash, stampede and pepperspray a peaceful pro-Palestine demonstration of 20-30,000 people, against the rolling out of the red carpet for a war criminal who should be in the Hague. We talk about what this event reveals about the police, the Australian Labor Party and the Australian ruling classes' commitment to Israel.

Emma and Chloe talk about Trump's ICE gestapo terrorising American cities and the inspiring working class resistance to their murderous regime in Minneapolis. Also, an update on the continued ruling class campaign to silence pro-Palestine protests in Australia. Links: Marxism Conference!! Register to protest Isaac Herzog! "Our union leaders are unmoved by genocide and indifferent to pay cuts" by Zak Borzovoy "Protest against war criminal Israeli President Isaac Herzog" by Shovan Bhattarai "The burgeoning resistance to Trump's deportation regime" by Joe Allen

Chloe and Emma take down the rightwing, racist campaign against the Palestine movement since the Bondi massacre. NB: Since we recorded this episode, the Greens have indicated they will vote down the Hate Speech bill.

Emma and Chloe give each other the combined Christmas and birthday present of a whole episode about class struggle in the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity.

Emma and Chloe discuss their respective weekend experiences of shutting down a coal port and spying on a far right rally. "Understanding the net zero circus" by Lily Campbell in Red Flag "The far right is organising. We have to resist" by Anneke Demanuele in Red Flag

Chloe and Emma discuss that meeting between NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump. They talk about what the meeting and Mamdani's campaign reveal about the limitations of a strategy for social change that looks to the Democratic Party. Some further reading: "Mamdani, that meeting and why the Left needs to wake up" by Sarah Garnham for Red Flag "After the surreal summit" by Ashley Smith for Tempest

In this episode, Chloe and Emma explain the socialist theory of the trade unions. We talk about the trade union bureaucracy and the rank-and-file socialist strategy in the unions.

Chloe and Emma discuss the protest at the Indo-Pacific arms expo in Sydney, and what it reveals about Australian imperialism. We talk about the AUKUS deal, why Australian politicians are so committed to the US alliance, and their imperialist plans for the Indo-Pacific region. Further reading: News.com.au article: "Pro-Palestine activist ‘surrounded’ by cops at press conference after 13 arrested at arms expo blockade" "AUKUS deal should be scrapped" by Tom Bramble in Red Flag

Chloe and Emma talk about the major shift in world politics in 2025. The political, economic and social structures of world capitalism are being reshaped to meet the demands of a new era of instability and imperialism. From the new Trump administration and the rise of other vicious far right forces, to the ramping up of imperialist tensions. We also point to the mass struggles against the system in recent months and years: the Gen Z revolutions in Nepal, Madagascar, Indonesia, Morroco and elsewhere; the mass movement for Palestine; European struggles against austerity and genocide that have included general strikes. This is a moment of rapid transformation - socialists need to understand the situation and make the most of the opportunities to build a revolutionary socialist alternative to capitalism. Further reading "Are we living in a new world order?" - by Eleanor Morley in Red Flag "A new international political situation" by Jordan Humphreys in Red Flag

Emma and Chloe critique mutual aid from a socialist perspective and discuss Dean Spade's 2020 book Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (And the Next). While mutual aid might feel good, we argue that it can't meet the needs of working class people, can't challenge the capitalist state or the bosses, and won't help us build the socialist party we need. Further Reading: "Mutual aid is nice but it doesn't challenge capitalism" by Erin Russell in Red Flag

Emma and Chloe discuss the ceasefire in Gaza, before an interview with Josh Lees, eye witness to the historic general strikes for Palestine in Italy. Josh is a regular on the pod, a socialist activist for Palestine and leader of the historic March for Humanity across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Further reading: Italy's general strike shows the way forward - by Josh Lees Ceasefire in Gaza: relief but not enough - by Tom Bramble

Emma and Chloe review the authoritarian offensive of Trump and the far right in the US, who have used the assassination of Charlie Kirk to intensify a crackdown on left-wing speech. We discuss the far right in the UK, who just mobilised their biggest street march ever. And we discuss developments in Australia, where Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price are pushing for a hard right turn in the Liberal Party. How can we understand the simultaneous growth of the far right around the world, and what can we do about it? Stuff to read from Red Flag: Charlie Kirk's legacy: a bosses' war on free speech - by D. Taylor The far right threat inside the Liberal Party - by Eleanor Morley

Workers in Europe have been rising up to fight for Palestine and against their own governments. It all began with the "bloquons touts" movement in France, which mobilised millions of workers and students to block everything to oppose their government's latest austerity bill - they shut down railway stations, blockaded city squares and went on strikes across public sector work places. Next, something incredible happened. Up to 2 million workers in Italy went on strike and blocked everything, inspired by the French movement. Thanks to pressure from left wing unions and the radical youth Palestine movement, major unions called the first ever general strike to oppose the genocide in Gaza, to end their government's complicity, and in solidarity with the Global Sumud flotilla. This wonderful show of solidarity should serve as an inspiration for radicals across the world. In this special episode, Emma interviews a French revolutionary socialist, Aurelien Gautreau, and an Italian leftist journalist, Francesco Zambelli, about the strikes in their countries. Aurelien is a member of the NPA-R (New anticapitalist party - revolutionaries) in France and Francesco works for Italian leftist radio station, Radio onda d'urto.