Let’s talk DSA-LA: Why we’re not knocking doors for Zionist, pro-cop Nithya and you shouldn’t either!
Lital and Edward are joined by Julie from JBA-LA and Lindsay from International Socialist Alternative (Revolutionary) to talk about the battle in DSA-LA over endorsing Zionist cop-lover Nithya Raman for mayor. Despite a spirited effort by these comrades and even a split on the DSA Right (who'd have thought?), Raman was endorsed by the LA branch and is facing off against another "progressive" Dem, Karen Bass (supported by every DSAer on the city council) in November. We talk about the situatio...
15 Sept 2026
Saving Debs from His Epigones
Lital and Edward are joined by Professor Jacob Zumoff to save Eugene Debs from his many self-professed disciplines. We talk Debs' views on everything from industrial unionism to class independence to black liberation and anti-imperialism...and why Sanders, Mamdani, and AOC claiming him would have the father of American socialism rolling in his grave. Jacob is a research associate at the Prometheus Research Library, which you can follow on X and email at library@prl.org if you'd like to visit!...
1 Sept 2026
Labor Battle at C&H Sugar–Defend the Crockett 10!
Lital and Edward are joined by Emily Turnbull, retired longshore worker and former member of ILWU Local 10's executive board, and Max from JBA in East Bay DSA to discuss the battle at C&H Sugar and the fight to defend the Crockett 10, trade unionists and socialists facing potential prosecution after cops charged the picket line they were on in July. We discuss the united front rally outside the courthouse in defense of the Crockett 10, how the strike is connected to the battle to defend C...
20 Aug 2026
Why is it so hard for DSA to endorse independent socialists?
Lital and Edward are joined by Dan from International Socialist Alternative (Revolutionary) for a postmortem on the Sawant campaign. Dan recently wrote a letter to Cosmonaut replying to Socialist Majority Caucus support David Duhalde on the question of DSA endorsing Sawant. DSA didn't endorse Sawant in a pretty brazen display of sectarianism, and all wings of DSA celebrated her not making it past the primary to face off against arch-Zionist Adam Smith. Despite that, Sawant got an impressive 1...
10 Aug 2026
Black August: Why Fight for Black Freedom is Key to Fight for Socialism
Lital and Edward are joined by Jack and Brian from Chicago JBA to discuss why DSA must put the fight for black liberation front-and-center to advance working-class struggle today. We take up the age-old question "Why is DSA so white?" and make a pitch for a concrete plan to fight racist cop terror with the call to open police archives, as opposed to both colorblind economism and BLM liberalism. You can find the website of the Open Police Archives campaign here. They are @opa_now on X and @op...
24 Jul 2026
DSA: Which Side Are You On? Vote Working Class! Vote Sawant on August 4th!
Lital and Edward are joined by Summer and Em from Labor Militant and United front for a Workers Party to discuss Kshama Sawant's independent socialist campaign for Washington's 9th Congressional District. We do a deep dive into why every socialist should vote for Kshama, the dynamics within DSA and the broader left and why so many self-described socialists are sitting this race out (sectarianism!), where the working-class is at right now and why Kshama's dalliances with the Greens undermine h...
10 Jul 2026
DSA: Defend Cuba! Fight U.S. Imperialism! All out on July 17th!
Lital and Edward are once again joined by Monica, who has been helping organize a united-front demonstration in defense of Cuba happening in New York City (and elsewhere!) on July 17th. We talk about why it's essential to fight to defend the gains of the Cuban Revolution against U.S. imperialism, why the Communist Party's market reforms are throwing open the doors wide for the gusanos and U.S. rulers to foment counterrevolution, and what socialists and anti-imperialists can do right now in th...
7 Jul 2026
Special Episode: The DSA "Red Wave" That Wasn't
In a special episode of Gimme a Break! Lital and Edward are joined by Tom from Transit Workers for a Fighting Union to talk about the supposed "Red Wave" elections in NYC that has so many DSAers celebrating. Sorry, we're here to burst your bubble. Tom explains how workers really see DSA as little different than the liberal Dems who make it impossible for them to live in NYC and made their lives a living hell. We also talk about Melat Kiros' win in Colorado and pour water on the notion this re...
6 Jul 2026
Labor Notes at a Dead End and How to Get a Fighting Labor Movement: Discussion with Elliot from COFTU and Chantelle from MCU & TM
Lital and Edward are joined by Elliot from the Committee for One Fighting Transit Union (COFTU) and Chantelle from the Maoist Communist Union (MCU) and Teamsters Mobilize (TM) to talk last month's Labor Notes conference. Both were part of a panel held the same weekend as Labor Notes, "A Militant Critique of Labor Notes: For a Fighting Workers Movement," and talk both their experiences on the job, at Labor Notes, and what strategy is needed to rebuild the labor movement in the United States. N...
26 Jun 2026
DSA: Fight Mamdani's Privatization! Defend the Projects!
Lital and Edward are joined by Anissa from Adolfina and Tenants Against Privatization (TAP) and Mika from the Defend the Projects Committee to discuss Mamdani's plan to privatize public housing, how tenants are fighting back against the "socialist" mayor scheming with real estate interests to screw black and brown New Yorkers, the link between the fight to defend public housing and the Puerto Rican struggle against imperialism, and why DSAers should fight Zohran to save public housing. You c...
16 Jun 2026
DSA: To Fight U.S. Imperialism—Defend Iran, Break from Dems!
***This episode was recorded before the latest "ceasefire."*** Lital and Edward are joined by Tara from Chicago to discuss JBA's effort to put forward a resolution calling for Chicago DSA to take a side with Iran in the US-Iran War. We talk about what arguments were raised against the resolution, how we got bumped off the agenda "for lack of time" twice, and why its in the interests of American workers to stand with Iran and fight for the defeat of the U.S. and Israel in this reactionary war....
8 Jun 2026
Finally, a DSA candidate we can support! Vote Brittany for Rhode Island!
In a special episode of Gimme a Break!, Lital and Edward interview Monica from JBA-NYC and Jason from Labor Militant, just back from a trip to Rhode Island to campaign for independent DSA candidate Brittany Kubicek in her bid for Rhode Island's 5th House District. We talk about their experience canvassing in Providence before airing an interview Jason and Monica did with Brittany while in Rhode Island. Check out Brittany's campaign website here, sign up to get involved and donate to th...
31 May 2026
California DSA: "Vote Socialist" on June 2!
Lital and Edward are joined by Max from East Bay DSA to talk about the June 2 primary elections in California. How should DSAers, socialists of all stripes, and working people vote in these elections? For the "Vote Socialist" slate! Max motivates a resolution JBA promoted in EBDSA calling for this, the excuses of the DSA Right and Left for not supporting it, why "socialists" are saying vote for Billionaire Democrat Steyer, and how to go forward. You can read the resolution here: https://drive...
24 May 2026
The Fight Inside DSA for No More 24
In the first ever episode of Gimme a Break! Edward and Lital sit down with Monica from NYC-JBA to discuss the struggle for No More 24 inside DSA, why the NYC-DSA leadership overturned the rank-and-file's support of the struggle to stand with Zohran, and what role Marxists should play in DSA. We also motivate our petition for a special meeting in NYC-DSA to overturn the leadership's blatant disregard of the will of the membership, which you can find here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI...
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