Coming From Left Field (Audio)

“Bonfire: American Sociocide, Broken Relations, & the Quest for Democracy” with Charles Derber

113-“Bonfire: American Sociocide, Broken Relations, & the Quest for Democracy” with Charles Derber

In this episode, we dive deep into America's social crisis with sociologist Charlie Derber, author of “Bonfire of America: Sociocide, Broken Relationships, and the Quest for Democracy.” Derber explores the concept of "sociocide"—the systemic unraveling of societal bonds—arguing that hyper-individualism, neoliberal economics, and political polarization have eroded trust, community, and collective identity. The discussion traces how Reagan-era policies, Silicon Valley's disruption, and the Democratic Party's abandonment of class solidarity have fueled Trumpism as a symptom, not an anomaly. While bleak, Derber highlights grassroots resistance as a path forward, warning against nostalgia for a pre-Trump "normal" that never addressed inequality. A provocative mix of history, sociology, and urgent political critique that concludes with a tone of hope for a better future.

 

 

Order the book: https://tinyurl.com/5t3ye96s

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#Sociocide# Trumpism# Neoliberalism# Political polarization# Social capital# Decline of democracy# Economic inequality# Authoritarianism# Charlie Derber# Leftist podcast# Breakdown of society# Civic deserts# Loneliness epidemic# Working-class alienation# Democratic Party failure# Silicon Valley billionaires# Fascism in America# Social media isolation# Resistance movements# Fight oligarchy# Political sociology# American crisis# Democracy podcast# Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Coming From Left Field#CFLF#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

"DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living & Hospice" with Judy Karofsky

In this episode of Coming from Left Field, we dive into America’s broken elder care system with Judy Karofsky, author of “DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice.” We discuss how corporate greed and lack of regulation have turned assisted living into a profit-driven nightmare, where facilities—often run by private equity firms—prioritize cost-cutting over resident dignity. With shocking stories from Judy’s own mother’s ordeal (including wrongful death notices and evictions), the conversation highlights systemic neglect, underpaid staff, and families left powerless.

Our discussion pivots to solutions, from policy reforms (like Biden’s stalled staffing mandates) to grassroots activism. Judy’s book serves as a rallying cry, comparing the crisis to Silent Spring—a wake-up call to demand dignity for the elderly. While the system feels rigged, the episode ends on a note of defiance: by sharing stories, organizing, and pressuring lawmakers, change is possible. This is a raw, urgent look at a crisis affecting us all—because, as Judy warns, “Every one of us will need or provide this care someday.”

 

 

Order the book: https://diselderlyconduct.com/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#private equity healthcare#elder care crisis#assisted living problems#nursing home abuse# private equity healthcare#elder care costs#aging in America# hospice c#are flaws#Judy Karofsky interview#Diselderly#Conduct book#senior living scams#Medicare assisted living#elder care reform#caregiver burnout#elder rights advocacy#aging parents care#elder care horror stories#VA vs private elder care#Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Coming From Left Field#CFLF#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

"Obscene Wealth” with Greg Godels & Pat Cummings

In this podcast, we discuss Greg's article "Obscene Wealth" from MLToday, based on Gabriel Zucman's research on U.S. wealth inequality. Zucman reveals that in 2024, the wealth of the top 0.00001% (19 households) increased by $1 trillion, surpassing Switzerland’s GDP. The top 10% possess 67% of the wealth, while the bottom 50% hold just 3%, leading to economic and political marginalization. The article argues that capitalism inherently concentrates wealth, reinforcing class divisions between capital owners and workers.

A few topics we cover in our conversation include:

• Why wealth inequality is worse than income inequality—and how it strangles democracy.
• The death of the middle class: From thriving factory towns to hollowed-out economies.
• Cold War secrets: How post-WWII prosperity was a fluke (and why it collapsed).
• Why both Democrats & Republicans serve the ultra-rich (hint: lobbyists, gerrymandering, and media control).

• Possible answer: Replacing capitalism with socialism is presented as a viable solution.

 

Article in MLToday: https://mltoday.com/obscene-wealth/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#Obscene Wealth #Wealth Inequality #Billionaires #Late Stage Capitalism #Robber Barons #1Percent #Oligarchy #Marxist Analysis #Rust Belt #Working Class #Leftist Podcast #Economic Justice #Jeff Bezos #Elon Musk #Dark Money#Rust Belt #Democracy In Decline#Leftist Podcast##Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Coming From Left Field#CFLF#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

"Antonio Gramsci: Theirs and Ours” Interviewing Greg Godels

In this podcast we discuss Greg’s recent article in MLToday: “Antonio Gramsci: Theirs and Ours.”

Gramsci, an Italian Marxist philosopher, theorized that ruling classes maintain power through cultural hegemony—controlling institutions like media, education, and religion to shape societal norms. Surprisingly, today’s far-right (e.g., Steve Bannon, Christopher Rufo, Marine Le Pen) has weaponized Gramsci’s ideas, using his playbook to dominate politics by attacking "wokeness," reshaping schools, and leveraging media.

Meanwhile, the left has fragmented into identity politics, failing to unite around class struggle or build a counter-hegemonic movement. Gramsci’s lesson is clear: to challenge authoritarianism, progressives must reclaim cultural institutions and prioritize collective working-class solidarity over divisive individualism. The right understands this; the left must relearn it.

 

Article in MLToday: https://mltoday.com/antonio-gramsci-theirs-and-ours/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

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"What’s Left” in conversation with Stephen Gowans

Our podcast features Stephen Gowans, a Canadian political analyst, author, and activist known for his anti-imperialist and socialist views on U.S. foreign policy, capitalism, and Western interventionism.

Gowans authored The Killer's Henchman: Capitalism and the Covid-19 Disaster (2022), Israel, A Beachhead in the Middle East (2019), Patriots, Traitors and Empires (2018), and Washington's Long War on Syria (2017).

His blog, “What’s Left,” critiques Western dominance, corporate media, and capitalism from an anti-imperialist and class struggle perspective.

This discussion examines U.S. foreign policy, media influence, and the challenges faced by the left in addressing capitalism. Gowans suggests a focus on Marxist-Leninist principles centered on working-class efforts rather than performative activism.

 

What’s Left Blog: https://gowans.blog/

Follow Stephen on twitter: @GowansStephen

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

Stephen Gowans#What's Left#Whats Left#Canada#Trump Tarriff#Anti-imperialism#Anti-capitalism#Marxism-Leninism#Socialism#Neoliberalism#Economic sanctions#Class struggle#Cuba blockade#Venezuela sanctions#Korean War#Media manipulation#Project Esther#Corporate media bias#Heritage Foundation#Noam Chomsky#Bolsheviks3Pandemic & capitalism (COVID-19)#Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Podcast#Coming FromLeftField#Coming From Left Field#zzblog#mltoday#Killers Henchman# Israel A Beachhead in the Middle East# Patriots Traitors and Empires

"Military AI Watch” A Project Censored Exposé with Peter Byrne

In this podcast, our guest is Peter Byrne, a national and international award-winning investigative reporter and science writer.  His works have been published in Scientific American, Wired, Mother Jones, and New Scientist. In partnership with Project Censored, Byrne has launched Military AI Watch, a groundbreaking ten-part series that will run monthly on the Project Censored website.

This exposé reveals the manifold dangers of developing AI applications for military purposes and how the public has been kept in the dark about these efforts, which present potentially disastrous consequences for the world, while promising a financial bonanza to wealthy investors. Byrne has spent the last two years conducting in-depth research for this series and is at work on a database of selected AI weapons companies and their investors. This collaboration between Project Censored and Peter Byrne provides much-needed attention to an issue that has a profound public impact and has been under-reported for too long.

Follow Military AI Watch on Project Censored: https://www.projectcensored.org/military-ai-watch/

Peter Byrnes Website: https://www.peterbyrne.info/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

Peter Byrnes#Military AI Watch#Project Censored#Andy Lee Roth#Mickey Huff#One Ring to Rule Them All#Stargate Fiasco#Data Centers#Gold Award#ChatGPT#CoPilot#DeepSeek#Wheres Daddy#Lavender#Artificial Intelligence#Predictive Policing#Military Industrial Complex#Peter Andreas#Peter Thiel#Palantir#Boeing#Lockhead Martin#Rathion#Northrop Grumman#Artificial Intelligence#SandboxAQ#Elon Musk#SpaceX#JADC2#OpenAI#Anduril#Iran Dress Codes#Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Podcast#Coming FromLeftField#Coming From Left Field#zzblog#mltoday

“What’s Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis” with Malcolm Harris

In this podcast, our guest is Malcolm Harris, the author of the national bestseller “Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World,” a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.  Today we discuss his latest book, “What’s Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis,” an ambitious work that explores political strategy, alliances, and antagonisms necessary to confront existential threats like climate change and societal collapse. It critiques capitalism's role in these crises and proposes three strategic paths for a viable future: Market Craft, Public Power, and Communism. 

Climate crisis demands rapid action and Harris rejects defeatism.  He offers hope that the left must organize across differences and confront the systemic obstacles built into our politics and economic system that support the status quo rather than change. In What's Left, Malcolm Harris cuts through the noise and gets real about our remaining options for saving the world.

 

Order the book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/malcolm-harris/whats-left/9780316577434

Website: malcolmharris.substack.com

Twitter: @BigMeanInternet

For those in Philadelphia, a holistic nonsectarian events calendar for the Philly Left. Book events and film screenings, organizing meetings and skill shares: https://philacal.com

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

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“Professors Speak Out: The Truth about Campus Investigations” with Nicholas Wolfinger

In this podcast, our guest is Nicholas H. Wolfinger, a professor of sociology at the University of Utah, specializing in family demography, marriage and divorce, and social inequality.  We discuss his recent book, “Professors Speak Out: The Truth about Campus Investigations,” which examines the often opaque and controversial processes surrounding campus investigations into faculty misconduct, particularly those involving Title IX, discrimination, and other institutional policies. Drawing on firsthand accounts from professors who have undergone such investigations, Dr. Wolfinger highlights concerns about due process, transparency, and the potential for reputational harm—even in cases where allegations are unfounded or politically motivated. We discuss that accountability is necessary; however, current investigative systems frequently fail to balance fairness for both accusers and the accused. He calls for reforms to ensure greater transparency, impartiality, and faculty involvement in designing investigative procedures.

 

Order the book: https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9781680535570

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#nick Wolfinger#Nicolas Wolfinger#Professors Speak Out#Academic freedom#Campus investigations#Faculty rights#University policies#Higher education controversies#Due process in academia#Title IX investigations#Bias in campus investigations#Faculty grievances#Tenure disputes#Free speech on campus#Legal challenges in academia#Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Podcast#Coming FromLeftField#Coming From Left Field#zzblog#mltoday

"Where Politics, Philosophy & Mental Health Intersect" with Dr. Russell Razzaque

In this podcast, our guest is Russell Razzaque, M.D., a practicing psychiatrist based in London, England. He earned his medical degree from the University of London and is a member of the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists. Dr Razzaque is also a writer and media commentator. He has written numerous columns across various publications, including The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Independent. He regularly provides psychological opinions on international television news channels, including the BBC and SKY. He is particularly interested in US politics, and his contributions to the US media include op-ed pieces for The Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

Just a few months ago, he began a YouTube channel that explores progressive politics, philosophical insights, and mental health perspectives on politics, economics, and current events.

 

Dr. Razzaque’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@russrazz/featured

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#Dr Russell Razzaque#Razzaque# psychiatrist# London#Trump#Open Dialogue# Authoritarianism in America# Adolescence NetFlix# Christriantiy#MAGA#Trump Enablers#Russell Razzaque YouTube#Mindfulness#Psychiatry#Mental health awareness#Breaking Down is Waking Up book#Toxic Masculinity# #Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Podcast#Coming FromLeftField#Coming From Left Field#zzblog#mltoday

“The Last American Road Trip: A Memoir” with Sarah Kendzior

In this podcast, our guest is Sarah Kendzior, the best-selling author of “The View From Fly Over Country, “Hiding In Plain Sight,” and “They Knew.” Her latest book, “The Last American Road Trip: A Memoir,” is part political history and part memoir, but it is mostly a great road trip romp with her family across the United States before it is too late.

Kendzior has a PhD in anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied authoritarian regimes of the former Soviet Union. After getting her PhD in 2012, Kendzior spent a decade writing about the decline of the United States for various publications around the world. She lives with her husband and kids in St. Louis.

 

Order the Book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250879882/thelastamericanroadtrip/

Subscribe to Sarah’s Substack Newsletter: https://sarahkendzior.substack.com/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/ 

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

 

#Sarah Kendzior#Last American Road Trip# American road trip#Political corruption#Trump kleptocracy# Authoritarianism in America# Surveillance capitalism# Conspiracy culture. Media disinformation# Midwest flyover country#They Knew# Hiding in plain site#Paywall censorship#Route 66 nostalgia#FBI watchlists#Paywall censorship#ransnational organized crime#Pat Cummings#Greg Godels#ZZ Blog#Podcast#Coming FromLeftField#Coming From Left Field#zzblog#mltoday