Produced by the International Department of the Communist Party USA, Pants on Fire debunks fake news, myths, and corporate propaganda. The ruling class media uses lies and misinformation to maintain capitalist class rule and imperialist practices. Our job is to expose these lies and raise class consciousness. Workers of the world, unite!
Professor Norman Markowitz joins us to talk about the imperialist history behind the Israel-Palestine conflict. We discuss the dangerous escalation of violence in the region today as the US government reaffirms its unwavering strategic and military support to the right-wing Israeli regime.
Professor Markowitz is a historian and longtime member of the CPUSA, currently serving on the Peace & Solidarity Commission.
Notes:
Article from The Intercept: https://theintercept.com/2018/02/19/hamas-israel-palestine-conflict/ (https://theintercept.com/2018/02/19/hamas-israel-palestine-conflict/)
CPUSA statement: https://cpusa.org/article/stop-the-war-end-the-occupation-free-palestine/ (https://cpusa.org/article/stop-the-war-end-the-occupation-free-palestine/)
3 Nov 2023
15. Palestinian Liberation w/ Dr. Ofer Cassif
Dr. Ofer Cassif is a member of the Communist Party of Israel and an elected member of the Knesset, Israel's parliament. He was recently suspended for 45 days for his criticism of the Israeli government. We talk about Palestinian liberation, the fight against fascism in Israel, and much more.
28 Sept 2023
14. The Floating Border Wall
Alvaro joins us to discuss the latest political stunt at the US-Mexico border. The US Justice Department sued the state of Texas for installing an illegal floating barrier in the Rio Grande River in a cruel attempt to stop migrant crossings into the US. Almost 80% of the large buoys are on Mexican territory, increasing tensions between the two countries. A judge ordered Texas to move the buoys, but the US Court of Appeals stayed that decision. The case is still being deliberated by the courts, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowing to take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court.
4 Sept 2023
13. Vietnam's Foreign Policy
As US imperialism remains determined in its strategy of encircling China from all sides, President Biden announced his intention to travel to Vietnam in an effort to "upgrade" US-Vietnam relations. In this episode, we talk to Amiad about the core tenets of Vietnam's foreign policy, including the "Four Nos" and Bamboo Diplomacy. Unlike the US, Vietnam's foreign policy approach focuses on peace and prosperity for the Vietnamese people while never wavering in international solidarity.
Amiad is a journalist living and studying in Vietnam for over 10 years. He writes for the People's World and is an editor of the Political Theory Journal - Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.
Notes:
Article on Vietnam's Bamboo Diplomacy: https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/the-unique-approach-and-key-advantages-of-vietnams-bamboo-diplomacy-63294.html (https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/the-unique-approach-and-key-advantages-of-vietnams-bamboo-diplomacy-63294.html)
People's World article on foreign policy in Vietnam: https://peoplesworld.org/article/want-to-see-how-foreign-policy-should-be-crafted-look-to-vietnam/ (https://peoplesworld.org/article/want-to-see-how-foreign-policy-should-be-crafted-look-to-vietnam/)
People's World article on US efforts to drive a wedge between Vietnam and China: https://peoplesworld.org/article/u-s-steps-up-effort-to-drive-a-wedge-between-vietnam-and-china/ (https://peoplesworld.org/article/u-s-steps-up-effort-to-drive-a-wedge-between-vietnam-and-china/)
13 Jul 2023
12. China's Modernization
Rossana, co-chair of CPUSA, joins us to discuss her recent visit to China to learn about the country's modernization and poverty alleviation initiatives. She had a chance to sit down with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka to talk about his experience studying in the Soviet Union in the late 80s. He discusses the differences between what he witnessed in the Soviet Union and what he's witnessing in China today.
Register for the July 29th International Conference today by visiting Red World Review: https://redworldreview.org/ (https://redworldreview.org/)
25 Jun 2023
11. The 2023 International Conference
Alvaro, Amiad, and Andrew from the International Department's secretariat stop by to talk about the upcoming international conference on July 29th. We discuss internationalism, anti-imperialism, and Cold War 2.0.
The conference starts at 12pm Eastern Time on Saturday, July 29th. Visit Red World Review to register: https://redworldreview.org/ (https://redworldreview.org/)
View recordings from last year's conference on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLods-eFzXUgJgSWhQCPs7OW8CN-EIsaUx (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLods-eFzXUgJgSWhQCPs7OW8CN-EIsaUx)
Follow us on Twitter for updates: https://twitter.com/cpusadepartment (https://twitter.com/cpusadepartment)
22 May 2023
10. Proletarian Internationalism
Norman Markowitz is a historian and professor at Rutgers University. He joins us to discuss the concept of proletarian internationalism and the question of war between nations, which Marx established in the First International.
Show notes:
Chicago Tribune interview with Karl Marx that Norman mentions: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/bio/media/marx/79_01_05.htm (https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/bio/media/marx/79_01_05.htm)
Norman's articles in People's World: https://www.peoplesworld.org/authors/norman-markowitz/ (https://www.peoplesworld.org/authors/norman-markowitz/)
8 May 2023
9. Debunking the China Debt Trap Myth
Emily from Beijing joins us to discuss the ongoing claim from mainstream media that China is creating "debt traps" for developing countries. Emily is a Chinese-American researcher and member of CPUSA's Peace and Solidarity Commission, and she shares her strategy to "decolonize" her brain. Those of us in the imperial core are surrounded by propaganda and anti-China hysteria. How can we dig deeper and develop Marxist analysis skills to break free from the colonial brainwash?
Show notes:
Friends of Socialist China: https://socialistchina.org/ (https://socialistchina.org/)
Dongsheng News: https://dongshengnews.org/en/ (https://dongshengnews.org/en/)
22 Apr 2023
8. The Origins of Earth Day
In this special episode in observance of Earth Day, environmental/peace activist Len Yannielli joins us to discuss this day's true origins. Len has written numerous books about peace and the environment, and he is an active member of CPUSA.
Show notes:
Read more about the grassroots origins of Earth Day and nexus of the environmental/peace movement: The Day Before Yesterday: Committee for Nuclear Information: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/104829119800800104?icid=int.sj-abstract.similar-articles.9 (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/104829119800800104?icid=int.sj-abstract.similar-articles.9)
Faith in the Masses by Tony Pecinovsky: https://www.intpubnyc.com/browse/faith-in-the-masses/ (https://www.intpubnyc.com/browse/faith-in-the-masses/)
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Frederick_Douglass/N80LygEACAAJ?hl=en (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Frederick_Douglass/N80LygEACAAJ?hl=en)
People's World articles by Len: https://www.peoplesworld.org/authors/len-yannielli/ (https://www.peoplesworld.org/authors/len-yannielli/)
4 Apr 2023
7. Victims of Agent Orange
Merle Ratner joins us to discuss the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign (VAORRC) and the important work they're doing to hold the US accountable for its use of chemical weapons during the Vietnam War. The campaign is an initiative of US veterans, Vietnamese Americans, and all concerned about peace and justice. The US has a moral and legal responsibility to compensate the victims of Agent Orange, and Merle discusses the history of the campaign and what it's doing today to make sure that all victims of US imperialism are compensated.
VAORRC website: https://vn-agentorange.org/ (https://vn-agentorange.org/)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SurvivingAgentOrange/ (https://www.facebook.com/SurvivingAgentOrange/)
20 Mar 2023
6. Sanctions
In this episode, Amiad joins us to debunk the idea that sanctions are a "non-violent" form of warfare. The US empire claims that its harsh sanctions target foreign officials, businesspeople, and elites, the truth is that sanctions have caused more deaths worldwide than all weapons of mass destruction throughout history. Sanctions target civilians, often from the poorest countries on earth, and they specifically hit the young, the elderly, and the sick hardest.
Show notes:
Amiad's article in People's World: https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/sanctions-only-create-suffering-for-poor-people-so-why-keep-imposing-them/ (https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/sanctions-only-create-suffering-for-poor-people-so-why-keep-imposing-them/)
Sanctions Kill: https://sanctionskill.org/ (https://sanctionskill.org/)
6 Mar 2023
5. The One China Principle
In this episode, we talk to Duncan, a peace activist from the Asia-Pacific Subcommittee of the Peace & Solidarity Commission, about the One China Principle and how US imperialists are escalating their attempts to incite separatist groups inside Taiwan, jeopardizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and obstructing the Chinese government's efforts towards peaceful reunification. Duncan gives us a brief history lesson and we discuss the importance of rebuilding the peace movement in the US.
Show Notes:
PRC State Council white paper summary: https://english.www.gov.cn/archive/whitepaper/202208/10/content_WS62f34f46c6d02e533532f0ac.html (https://english.www.gov.cn/archive/whitepaper/202208/10/content_WS62f34f46c6d02e533532f0ac.html)
Full Text: The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era: https://english.news.cn/20220810/df9d3b8702154b34bbf1d451b99bf64a/c.html (https://english.news.cn/20220810/df9d3b8702154b34bbf1d451b99bf64a/c.html)
20 Feb 2023
4. Youth Visit to Cuba
In this episode of Pants On Fire, two young comrades - Calla and Dylan - join us to discuss their recent visit to Cuba to attend the Building Our Future Today Youth Conference, hosted by the Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas (UJC). They share their experience and talk about the important work that the National Network on Cuba (NNOC) is doing, and ways to get involved in Cuban solidarity work.
Calla's article: https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/u-s-youth-get-inside-look-at-how-cuban-elections-really-work/ (https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/u-s-youth-get-inside-look-at-how-cuban-elections-really-work/)
Dylan's article: https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/americans-could-beat-lung-cancer-if-u-s-lifted-blockade-of-cuba/ (https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/americans-could-beat-lung-cancer-if-u-s-lifted-blockade-of-cuba/)
Cuban Election Day Video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClrWp0cgsR6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link (https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClrWp0cgsR6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)
National Network On Cuba
- Website: https://nnoc.org/ (https://nnoc.org/)
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nnocuba (https://twitter.com/nnocuba)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalnetwork4cuba/ (https://www.instagram.com/nationalnetwork4cuba/)
5 Feb 2023
3. Imperialism at the US-Mexico Border
In this episode, we talk to Andres, co-chair of the Americas subcommittee of CPUSA's Peace and Solidarity Commission and president and CEO of Inclusion Americas, as well as Alvaro, chair of CPUSA's International Department and the Texas district chair. We discuss the myths and lies about immigration and how US imperialism is at the heart of the issue.
Show Notes:
US Immigration: Myths Vs. Facts (https://www.cpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CPUSA-Immigration-Booklet-ENG-side.pdf) - pamphlet published by the CPUSA Political Action Commission.
In Americas (https://www.inamericas.org/) - non-profit organization that works to increase social-economic equity and the end of institutional racism in the United States.
21 Jan 2023
2. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom
In this episode, we talk to Amiad from Vietnam about the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, USCIRF. This commission is funded by the US government, and its purpose is to monitor countries around the world for any violations of religious freedom. Commissioners are appointed by the president, secretary of state, and congress. USCIRF has been criticized (correctly) for having a pro-Christian, right-wing bias, and for the controversial figures like Tony Perkins and Gary Bauer, who have served on the commission. We talk about the implications for the people living in what USCIRF designates as "countries of particular concern," and the commission's obvious anti-communist, anti-socialist bias in how it determines what countries to put on its watch lists.
5 Jan 2023
1. International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties in Havana, Cuba
In this first episode of Pants On Fire, we are joined by Rossana from CPUSA to discuss her recent visit to Havana to attend the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties. We discuss the Cuban embargo and its implications for not only the Cuban people, but the entire world.
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