BOURGEOIS LEFT

ROGER BOYD—Through 2025, Trump and the US oligarchy have slowly come to the understanding that the mixture of absurdly high tariffs and technology export restrictions can no longer hold back China. Quite the opposite in fact, with China matching new tariff for new tariff, actually directing companies not to buy Nvidia chips, and playing its rare earths trump card. The result has been two 90-day delays to the imposition of new tariffs and now a one year agreement that seems to include a 10% reduction in the US tariff on China, from 57% to 47%; with 21% having already been in place under the Biden presidency.

GARLAND NIXON—The video features a detailed and critical discussion between Garland Nixon and Joti Brar about the state of democracy in Europe and globally, the facade of democratic processes under capitalist rule, and the broader systemic crises facing the world today. They argue that what is portrayed as democracy in capitalist societies—especially in Europe and the West—is essentially a sham designed to maintain the power and privileges of a tiny elite ruling class. This elite manipulates political systems, media, and popular narratives to suppress genuine democratic participation by the working class. The conversation touches on historical perspectives from Marxist theory, highlighting that democracy is always a class-based concept serving the interests of the dominant class—whether slave owners in ancient Greece or capitalists today.

BILLY BOB–The “culture war” is largely the creation of the ruling class and satisfies a variety of ruling class interests.  First and foremost, the culture war divides the working class and occupies their time and energy leaving no chance for a “class war” to gain any traction.

Secondly, the culture war captures the loyalty of unsuspecting voters to one of the two wings of the oligarchy.  “Liberals” support team blue while “Conservatives” support team red.  So not only is the working class divided along cultural lines, but each division remains loyal to one of the two wings of the oligarchy.  In this way, the oligarchs are able to stage manage the culture war in perpetuity while they never have to worry about a united working class threatening their oligarchic rule.

G. OLSON—We don’t know what transpired between Mamdani and Hochul, but we do know that in New York State, the Governor and legislature have a tight hold on the purse strings and can deny the funding for Mamdani’s agenda. To this point, Hochul has voiced her opposition to Mamdani’s modest tax on millionaires and billionaires.

BILLY BOB—Episode 160 of Blowback: Exposing Imperial Decline features hosts Billy Bob, Ian Kummer, Carlo Parcelli, and guest Greg Rosen discussing the concept of “liberal genocide”—the paradox where liberal democracies, often proclaiming human rights values, have historically engaged in or facilitated genocides to sustain oligarchic power and imperial interests. They examine multiple examples of genocidal actions post-World War II—including U.S.-backed death squads in Latin America, mass killings in Indonesia, devastation in Vietnam and Korea, and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The conversation highlights Western hypocrisy, especially the stark contrast between proclaimed liberal values and actions taken abroad, with Gaza as a particularly egregious example where Western media and governments have largely ignored or justified atrocities.