Novara FM: How Do We Liberate People From Bad Ideas?
One of America's most energetic thinkers poses a crucial conundrum for all progressives.
Tag: socialism
Red Flags: I Hate Landlords. How Do I Avoid Becoming One?
Sophie K Rosa
Sophie K Rosa advises the potential inheritor of multiple properties on how to resist the temptations of landlordism.
Downstream: Social Mobility Is a Lie. Aaron Bastani Meets Dan Evans.
With more strikes taking place and ever rising inequality, you’d think the left would be well-placed to talk about class with authority. But what if the movement had made a disastrous error when trying to understand the state of our nation? And what if we’re still missing a fundamental bit of understanding? Sociologist and trade […]
Downstream: Going Undercover With Neo-Nazis. Aaron Bastani Meets Julia Ebner
Since 2016 we’ve seen mainstream politics take a turn for the weird, epitomised by the surprise success of populist projects like Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. And fringe views have continued to muscle into the middle ground, with conspiracy theories and far-right talking points trickling into political discourse. Julia Ebner has been charting […]
Report: Panama’s Workers Forced the Government to Negotiate Live on TV. What Was the Point?
Octavio García Soto
Last year, workers in the world’s sixth most unequal country dragged the state to the negotiating table - and won caps on fuel and food prices. Now, many are accusing the state of brazenly abandoning its promises. Octavio García Soto reports.
Downstream: The Housing Crisis Is Even Worse Than You Think. Aaron Bastani Meets Vicky Spratt
Vicky Spratt is a London-based journalist and campaigner who writes on housing and the rental crisis. Her book Tenants is out now with Profile Books.
Downstream: We Must Ban Private Schools. Ash Sarkar Meets Richard Beard
Britain is unique in the way that public schools (that’s private schools to anyone outside of Britain) have a stranglehold on the establishment. Alumni of these schools are massively overrepresented in the upper echelons of society – so is it any wonder that the media, the judicial system and the political class treat normal people […]
Opinion: Keir Starmer is a Hypocrite. His Factional Response to the EHRC Proves It
Andrew Fisher
By using the EHRC's positive findings to launch an attack on the Labour left, Starmer has shown he’s willing to weaponise antisemitism to fight a factional battle, writes Andrew Fisher.
Opinion: Socialists, in 2023 Read More Fiction
Aaron Bastani
It’s impossible to respond to the challenges of the 21st century without literature, writes Aaron Bastani.
Explainers: What Does Qatar REALLY Want?
With the media furore around the world cup being held in Qatar, one might think that the mission to launder their reputation and establish themselves as a player on the world stage has failed. One might also think that the arguments about LGBT rights, migrant labour and FIFA corruption haven’t actually bothered the Qatari elites […]
Downstream: Immigration: Labour Have Always Been Just As Bad As Tories. Ash Meets Maya Goodfellow
Ash meets Dr. Maya Goodfellow to talk about New Labour's inhumane immigration policies, the problem with the term 'Economic Migrant' and how people, no matter what we're told, will end up falling in love across supposed cultural divides.
Downstream: Continuing to Live Was a Challenge. Aaron Meets Chris Packham
On the morality of having children, the Just Stop Oil protests and Southampton F.C.
Explainers: How Private Water Companies Are Killing Britain’s Rivers
Last year in Britain raw sewage was pumped into rivers and coasts 375,000 times. Not a SINGLE river in England has a clean bill of health. Aaron Bastani explains how private water companies are killing the country’s waterways – and why water bosses should face jail time.
Downstream: Food Culture Is Making Us Anxious. Ash Meets Ruby Tandoh
Eating is supposed to be fun, so why has food culture become so difficult to navigate without feeling anxious? Ash Sarkar meets food writer Ruby Tandoh, former Great British Bake-Off contestant and author of Cook As You Are.
Downstream: Can Lula Take Brazil Back From Bolsonaro? Aaron Meets Sabrina Fernandes
On 2nd October, Brazil will be faced with a stark choice. The incumbent president, Jair Bolsonaro, has overseen economic calamity and nearly 700,000 Covid deaths in his first term. His challenger, Lula Da Silva, is hoping to regain the presidency – just three years since being freed from prison. To discuss the state of Brazilian […]
Downstream: The Queen Bears Responsibility. Aaron & Ash Monarchy Special
On the 8th of September this year, Queen Elizabeth II died. In a special episode of Downstream, Aaron and Ash discuss her life and the aftermath of her death.
Downstream: They Are Lying to Us. Ash Sarkar Meets Paris Marx
We are constantly told that we are witnessing unprecedented innovation in technology, and that our problems will be solved by new apps, electric cars or space exploration. But is this innovation truly liberating? Or does it serve to outsource labour and further consolidate power and money in the hands of the few? Ash Sarkar meets […]
Downstream: The Moral Crisis in Corporate Britain. Aaron Bastani Meets Dave Ward.
Amidst a grave cost of living crisis, bosses in The Royal Mail, BT and others are imposing pay increases on their employees way below inflation. Aaron Bastani speaks to CWU General Secretary Dave Ward about corporate greed, the shadowy world of CEOs and how he plans to coordinate direct action beyond his union’s particular dispute.