Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Socialism – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (12/12)
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Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Socialism – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (12/12)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Prof. Aleksandr Buzgalin says the conditions for socialism did not exist in the 1920s but now they do, but there will be many zigs and zags getting there – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 29, 2018.

Many Russians Think Climate Change is Propaganda to Weaken Their Economy – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (11/12)
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Many Russians Think Climate Change is Propaganda to Weaken Their Economy – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (11/12)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Prof. Aleksandr Buzgalin says Russian oligarchs find an oil-based economy too profitable to consider transitioning away from it – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 27, 2018.

Why is Putin so Popular When People are so Poor? – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (9/12)
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Why is Putin so Popular When People are so Poor? – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (9/12)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Prof. Aleksandr Buzgalin says under the slogans liberal democracy and market capitalism was delivered chaos and crime; Putin stands for traditional Russian values and culture, social order and making Russia great again – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 23, 2018.

Is Putin’s Rule a Dictatorship? – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (8/12)
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Is Putin’s Rule a Dictatorship? – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (8/12)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Prof. Aleksandr Buzgalin says while Putin heads a powerful state, this is not a system of one man rule; more than 100 billionaires and a stratum of top bureaucrats have political power – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 22, 2018.

Putin is Anointed King, but Big Capital has the Real Power – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (7/12)
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Putin is Anointed King, but Big Capital has the Real Power – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (7/12)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Prof. Aleksandr Buzgalin says after the chaotic ‘90s, the Russian oligarchs needed a stronger central state to defend their class interests, but Putin’s individual power should not be exaggerated – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 20, 2018.

Shock Without the Therapy: A New Russia is Born in Chaos and Plunder – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (6/12)
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Shock Without the Therapy: A New Russia is Born in Chaos and Plunder – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (6/12)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Prof. Aleksandr Buzgalin says the collapse of the Soviet Union was followed by the rise of billionaire oligarchs as the “free market” led to the impoverishment of the people – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 19, 2018.

I Returned from Vacation to Find the Soviet Union had Collapsed – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (5/12)
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I Returned from Vacation to Find the Soviet Union had Collapsed – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (5/12)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Prof. Aleksandr Buzgalin says that he returned from a vacation in the countryside to find Gorbachev was arrested, Yeltsin was leader and the Soviet Union was no more – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 16, 2018.

Turning Power into Money, the End of the Soviet Union – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (4/12)
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Turning Power into Money, the End of the Soviet Union – RAI with Aleksandr Buzgalin (4/12)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Prof. Aleksandr Buzgalin says that many Communist Party leaders supported Gorbachev’s perestroika reforms, but what they really wanted, was to drop restrictions on accumulating great wealth – with host Paul Jay. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced July 15, 2018.

Harvey Weinstein, the Democratic Party and the Power of the ‘Creative Class’ – Thomas Frank on RAI (9/9)
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Harvey Weinstein, the Democratic Party and the Power of the ‘Creative Class’ – Thomas Frank on RAI (9/9)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Tom Frank says in the world of the wealthy, liberalism is something you do to offset your rapacious behavior in other spheres – with host Paul Jay. This episode was produced on January 2, 2018.

Obama Chose Wall St. Over Main St. – Thomas Frank on RAI (8/9)
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Obama Chose Wall St. Over Main St. – Thomas Frank on RAI (8/9)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Thomas Frank says the Democratic Party must acknowledge that in 2008 the crash and the discrediting of Bush, created conditions for much a more progressive policy – but Obama did not step up; with host Paul Jay. This episode was produced on December 29, 2017.

Clinton and Obama Helped Make the Democrats a Wall Street Party – Thomas Frank on RAI (7/9)
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Clinton and Obama Helped Make the Democrats a Wall Street Party – Thomas Frank on RAI (7/9)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Thomas Frank, author of Listen Liberal, says Democratic Party administrations allowed the big banks to run economic policy and create exploding income inequality – with host Paul Jay. This episode was produced on December 28, 2017.

From Ronald Reagan to Bernie Sanders – RAI with Thomas Frank (5/9)
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From Ronald Reagan to Bernie Sanders – RAI with Thomas Frank (5/9)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Thomas Frank, author of ‘What’s the Matter with Kansas?’ and ‘Listen, Liberal,’ talks about his journey from being an enthusiastic supporter of the Vietnam War and Ronald Reagan to embracing Franklin Roosevelt and socialist Bernie Sanders. This episode was produced on September 15, 2017.

Clinton Democrats Hate the Left – RAI with Thomas Frank (4/9)
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Clinton Democrats Hate the Left – RAI with Thomas Frank (4/9)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Thomas Frank, author of ‘What’s the Matter with Kansas?’ and ‘Listen, Liberal,’ tells host Paul Jay that Bill Clinton tried to drive the left from the party; now Clinton Democrats blame the left for Hillary’s defeat. This episode was produced on September 12, 2017.

Liberal Elite Doesn’t Care Much About Inequality – RAI with Thomas Frank (3/9)
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Liberal Elite Doesn’t Care Much About Inequality – RAI with Thomas Frank (3/9)

Bill Clinton accomplished a Republican agenda and Obama allowed the Tea Party to steal the economic populist moment, says Thomas Frank on Reality Asserts Itself with Paul Jay; Frank is the author of “What’s the Matter with Kansas” and “Listen, Liberal”. This episode was published on September 10, 2017.

Clinton Attacks Sanders in New Book – RAI with Thomas Frank (2/9)
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Clinton Attacks Sanders in New Book – RAI with Thomas Frank (2/9)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Thomas Frank, author of ‘What’s the Matter with Kansas?’ and ‘Listen, Liberal,’ and Paul Jay discuss Hillary Clinton’s new book ‘What Happened,’ and identify the real differences between Clinton and Sanders. This episode was produced on September 7, 2017.

Corporate Democrats Have a Vested Interest in Not Listening to Workers – RAI with Thomas Frank (1/9)
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Corporate Democrats Have a Vested Interest in Not Listening to Workers – RAI with Thomas Frank (1/9)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Thomas Frank, author of “What’s the Matter with Kansas” and “Listen, Liberal”, tells host Paul Jay that the Democratic Party serves the professional class and the top 10% and no longer cares about the poor or working class. This episode was produced on September 5, 2017.

“America Does Bad Things for Good Reasons” – Christian Appy on RAI (1/5)
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“America Does Bad Things for Good Reasons” – Christian Appy on RAI (1/5)

This interview was originally published on May 26, 2015. On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Appy, author of “American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity”, discusses growing up with a broad faith that America is always an indispensable and invincible force for good in the world – and the seeds of his disillusionment with Americanism.

“American Does Bad Things for Good Reasons” – Christian Appy on RAI (2/5)
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“American Does Bad Things for Good Reasons” – Christian Appy on RAI (2/5)

This interview was originally published May 17, 2015. On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Appy, author of “American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity”, discusses how before direct American military involvement in Vietnam, the US financed almost 80 percent of the cost, so, in effect, France was serving almost as an American mercenary.

Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs – Johann Hari on RAI (2/2)
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Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs – Johann Hari on RAI (2/2)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Hari tells Paul Jay that the conventional understanding of drug addiction is wrong, and alternative drug policy in Portugal and Canada can lead the way. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced March 6, 2015.

Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs – Johann Hari on RAI (1/2)
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Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs – Johann Hari on RAI (1/2)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Hari tells Paul Jay that from the 1914 legislation criminalizing drugs, to the targeting of singer Billie Holiday, to today’s “War on Drugs”, racism is at the heart of the policy. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced February 6, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: Private or Public? – Robert Pollin on RAI (8/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Private or Public? – Robert Pollin on RAI (8/8)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says if we let the market operate on its own without some form of major public sector intervention, there’s no chance whatsoever that we’re going to achieve climate stabilization. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 14, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: Tax, Trade, Cap, Deny? – Robert Pollin on RAI (7/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Tax, Trade, Cap, Deny? – Robert Pollin on RAI (7/8)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says the politics around climate change has deteriorated; a few years ago even President Bush and Senator McCain were both talking about measures to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 13, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: Fighting at the Local Level – Robert Pollin on RAI (6/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Fighting at the Local Level – Robert Pollin on RAI (6/8)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says no-GDP growth is unrealistic and unnecessary as the way to achieve carbon emission targets – green economists must be advocates of job creation. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 11, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: Green Growth or no Growth? – Robert Pollin on RAI (5/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Green Growth or no Growth? – Robert Pollin on RAI (5/8)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says no-GDP growth is unrealistic and unnecessary as the way to achieve carbon emission targets – green economists must be advocates of job creation. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 11, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: Is Clean Coal and Carbon Capture an Option? – Robert Pollin on RAI (4/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Is Clean Coal and Carbon Capture an Option? – Robert Pollin on RAI (4/8)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says there’s no evidence technology will make fossil fuel clean, and it’s more cost-effective to achieve energy efficiency and produce alternative energy. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 9, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: Proposal for a Sustainable Plan – Robert Pollin on RAI (2/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: Proposal for a Sustainable Plan – Robert Pollin on RAI (2/8)

On Reality Asserts Itself, Mr. Pollin says a global 1.5% of GDP per year investment in energy efficiency is the first step towards achieving necessary targets – but the fossil fuel industry is against it. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 7, 2015.

Towards a Green Economy: How Urgent is It? – Robert Pollin on Reality Asserts Itself (1/8)
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Towards a Green Economy: How Urgent is It? – Robert Pollin on Reality Asserts Itself (1/8)

Mr. Pollin tells Paul Jay the most likely scenario is that the level of CO2 carbon dioxide emissions are going to be twice the level that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, says is necessary to have a chance to stabilize the climate. This is an episode of Reality Asserts Itself, produced January 6, 2015.