Crawdads and Taters: Red State Rebels

Fight the Oligarchy with Class War, not Class Collaboration

In the response to the LA anti-ICE protests, a large number of Democrats have called for peaceful non-violence in the spirit of MLK Jr. We review the history of the Civil Rights movement and how change actually took place. And we come to the conclusion that today's Democrats are the white moderate that MLK Jr warned us about. This includes progressive darlings Bernie Sanders and AOC, who recently headlined a Fight the Oligarchy tour. What is the Fight the Oligarchy tour actually doing? Why is this event relevant today? Why do we need to break with the Democrats and have class independent leadership? We can't build a serious resistance movement to endless war, climate collapse and capitalist catastrophe within the Democratic Party. Bernie's Fight the Oligarchy tour, which is starting up again, is actually enabling and collaborating with the oligarchy. Bernie used to be much more radical before he allied with the Democratic Party. But today, Bernie Sanders has become the white moderate that MLK Jr. warned us about. Show Notes: * Black Lives Matter' Activists Disrupt Bernie Sanders Speech [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/black-lives-matter-activists-disrupt-bernie-sanders-speech-n406546] * AOC fundraising soars [https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/15/aoc-trump-fundraising-bernie-sanders-musk.html] * The Real Truth About the Bernie Fight the Oligarchy Tour - Sabby Sabs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KvFQQh6FQo] * Bernie SNAPS At His Own Supporters- Sabby Sabs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPfYN40osks] * Palestinians have a legal right to armed resistance against Israeli colonialism - Ben Norton [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwO6cGnn-M8]The Other America [https://www.crmvet.org/docs/otheram.htm] * Dr. Martin Luther King [https://www.crmvet.org/docs/otheram.htm] * Stokely Carmichael, A Philosopher Behind The Black Power Movement [https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/03/10/287320160/stokely-carmichael-a-philosopher-behind-the-black-power-movement] * Bernie Sanders Almost STORMS OUT Of Interview With ABC, PRAISES Trump Over Immigration - The Hill [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LpneWpIEmI]

How Corporate Democrats Paved the Road to Trumpism - Part 2

In Part 2 of this series, we focus on foreign policy. In Part 1, we explained how Trump and his oligarchs enrich themselves off the backs of the world’s poor and working-class at home. But in the case of foreign policy, Trump’s plans involve the blatant pillaging and exploitation of other country’s sovereign lands and resources. And again, this was prepared by the Biden regime and the sell-out democrats. Both parties are beholden to Zionism and the Military Industrial Complex. And Trump is just executing the next logical step in the colonial projects that the Democrats began. We cover the recent fight in the White House with Zelensky over the role of Ukraine, how Trump is continuing the Democrats Cold War on China, and Trump's plan for ethnically cleansing Gaza. Reading Notes: "Europe needs an independent foreign policy": Professor Jeffrey Sachs at European Parliament [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4c-YRPXDoM] Hard truths about the Trump-Zelensky-Vance Oval Office blow-up [https://responsiblestatecraft.org/zelensky/], Responsible Statecraft Zelensky’s hostility to peace triggers White House meltdown [https://www.aaronmate.net/p/zelenskys-hostility-to-peace-triggers?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=661n&fbclid=IwY2xjawIx-f1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHabaIPBCANfX7zFRgThRmmXcQObQl7gHIVNCZ35akMZxq7jKv9xKFutcxQ_aem_reP3K_x18mGcfBsGnRfLVQ&triedRedirect=true], Aaron Mate It's not Russia that's pushed Ukraine to the brink of war [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/30/russia-ukraine-war-kiev-conflict?CMP=share_btn_url&fbclid=IwY2xjawI4IVlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfB7nvpqtEBkjgnZK6dKytyFCs_qRL3XXCUOtdWBBB_WI7NQtwNNvTd1hg_aem_n0JUz1k2x5C9N9u1_Nd6pg] by Seumas Milne [https://www.theguardian.com/profile/seumasmilne] - Before the West flipped the script Congress bans arms to Ukraine militia linked to neo-Nazis, Congressman Ro Khanna [https://khanna.house.gov/media/in-the-news/congress-bans-arms-ukraine-militia-linked-neo-nazis] US arming of Ukraine is a scandal on its own [https://thegrayzone.com/2019/10/08/us-arming-of-ukraine-is-a-scandal-on-its-own/], the grayzone The US is arming and assisting neo-Nazis in Ukraine, while Congress debates prohibition [https://thegrayzone.com/2018/04/07/the-us-is-arming-and-assisting-neo-nazis-in-ukraine-while-congress-debates-prohibition/] Trump plans to make Ukraine a US economic colony, exploiting its critical minerals [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxxv2IEfU_c&t=310s] - Ben Norton China accuses US of ‘Cold War mentality’ after release of Biden national security strategy [https://thehill.com/policy/international/3686392-china-accuses-us-of-cold-war-mentality-after-release-of-biden-national-security-strategy/] , The Hill Biden voters passed on Kamala Harris because of Gaza, new poll shows [https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/biden-voters-passed-kamala-harris-because-gaza-new-poll-shows], Middle East Eye 'Uncommitted' leaders stand by 2024 strategy after Trump floats Gaza takeover, [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/uncommitted-leaders-stand-2024-strategy-trump-floats-gaza-takeover-rcna190782] NBC News Revolutionary Communists of America video [https://youtu.be/tzla4d4YhsI?si=-kiVk0gjx7RjWIdI] A Fighting Program for the Revolutionary Communists of America [https://communistusa.org/program/] Manifesto of the Revolutionary Communist International [https://marxist.com/manifesto-of-the-revolutionary-communist-international.htm] RCA- Join Your Party [https://communistusa.org/join/]

How Corporate Democrats Paved the Way to Trumpism- Part I

In our first episode during Trump’s second term, we look at a short (but not comprehensive) list of horrors that the Trump MAGA coalition has unleashed on the US public and how the groundwork for this horror show was laid down by the Biden regime, along with decades of corporate Democratic failures to build any kind of real opposition to the fascist-leaning movements of the Republican Party. In fact, recent Democratic Presidential campaigns have promised to be “tougher” than Trump on certain vulnerable populations. From the destruction of the social welfare state to ICE raids, deportations, the border wall, Guantánamo, tariffs and the new trade war, along with Trump’s ‘Drill Baby Drill’ ambitions, we have seen complete continuity between Democratic and Republican policies– with each successive administration moving further to the right– enriching more and more billionaires and oligarchs at the direct expense of the working- class, immigrants and refugees, and the environment. We also examine how the capitalist media plays a pivotal role as a force-multiplier– profiting off of Trump’s domestic terrorism and obfuscating the role of Democrats in enabling this terrorism. Together, these two corrupt parties work hand-in-glove in what has become straight-up class war. Thank you for listening to Crawdads & Taters: Red State Rebels. Please consider making a donation to support our rebellious work at patreon.com/crawdadsandtaters [http://patreon.com/crawdadsandtaters]. We can do this work with you, but not without you. Reading Notes: * How Biden set the stage for GOP budget cuts [https://www.stephensemler.com/p/how-biden-set-the-stage-for-gop-budget], Stephen Semler * Medicaid Removed for Nearly 25 Million Americans [https://www.newsweek.com/millions-medicaid-removed-withdrawn-covid-continuous-protection-1941226], Newsweek * Trump Migrant Deportation Numbers Compared to Obama, Biden [https://www.newsweek.com/immigrant-deportations-removals-trump-biden-obama-compared-chart-2026835], Newsweek * Biden is now deporting more people than Trump [https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-ELECTION/MIGRATION-DEPORTATIONS/akpeoeoerpr/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIXWORleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdDNzgw8cPK24ExGjCNOEyHVxHFtRp4grgVNKfiADs3rdIuqAC0L82Y2BA_aem_k5uhInjTOwPOO3vrSUWUUw], Reuters * Biden said he'd stop building the border wall, but is now going ahead on one piece [https://www.npr.org/2023/10/06/1204349523/biden-said-hed-stop-building-the-border-wall-but-is-now-going-ahead-on-one-piece], NPR * The Bankers on Obama’s Team [https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/12/henhouse-meet-fox-wall-street-washington-obama/] Photo of the Week: Obama, Who Let Citigroup Staff His First Cabinet, Calls for Voter Solidarity [https://www.truthdig.com/articles/photo-of-the-week-obama-who-let-citigroup-staff-his-first-cabinet-calls-for-voter-solidarity/], Truth Dig * Obama's promise to full close Guantanamo Bay [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1n8VJnvffE], YouTube * 122 years of US imperialism in Guantánamo: From torture to migrant detention , [https://geopoliticaleconomy.substack.com/p/us-imperialism-guantanamo-torture-migrant-detention]Geopolitical Economy Report * Manchin Poison Pills Buried in Inflation Reduction Act Will Destroy Livable Climate [https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/manchin-poison-pills-buried-in-inflation-reduction-act-will-destroy-a-livable-climate-2022-07-28/], Center for Biological Diversity * A Multitemporal Snapshot of Greenhouse Gas Emissionsfrom the Israel-Gaza Conflict [https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sbm/media/sbm/documents/Gaza_Carbon_Emissions.pdf]Climate Damage Caused by Russia's War in Ukraine [https://en.ecoaction.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Climate-Damage-Caused-by-War-24-months-EN.pdf]

Election 2024: A Masks-off Moment for Corporate Democrats and Bourgeois Liberals who Hate the Working Class

In this post-mortem election breakdown, we look at bourgeois liberal and Democratic establishment reactions to Harris' spectacular electoral failure. We analyze a liberal pattern of maliciously blaming voters and spewing false narratives about why people vote the way they do. We also examine the material impacts on US voters from the Democrats' own policies of economically abandoning the working class, abandoning left/progressive issues, campaigning with war criminals, and committing mass murder in Palestine, while violently repressing students at home. We look at why a majority of voters say they are worse off than they were four years ago, by examining the failure of Biden's signature Build Back Better plan and the meager accomplishments of the Inflation Reduction Act. And finally, we tackle the counter-revolutionary role of liberalism, its obsession with identity politics, and its refusal to acknowledge our class-based society. Liberalism creates a major obstacle in building class consciousness and class solidarity. Show Notes: Against the Stream - Trump's victory: What does it mean? – A communist analysis with Alan Woods [https://www.youtube.com/live/JqEjBeJgtQw?si=NLrs2TuS6wlhLSVE] Omnia Hegazy [https://www.instagram.com/omniahegazy/] Bidenomics Isn’t Working For Working People [https://www.levernews.com/bidenomics-isnt-working-for-working-people/] - Stephen Semler The Economy is Fine [https://www.stephensemler.com/p/the-economy-is-fine] - Stephen Semler  Most Americans think the economy is bad but they’re split on whether Trump or Harris can fix it [https://fortune.com/2024/10/21/most-americans-think-economy-bad-split-on-whether-trump-harris-can-fix/] 2024 American Electorate Voter Poll- Hispanic Voters [https://unidosus.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AEP-Latino-Deck-Final-1.pdf] "Love Me, I'm a Liberal" (for the 2024 Election) by Ben Grosscup [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgOHJaCPkLg] Why US Muslims are Abandoning Harris with Sami Hamdi [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQUK_wgNJhQ]  Democrats Abandoned the Working Class: Robin D.G. Kelley on Trump’s Win & Need for Class Solidarity | Democracy Now! [https://www.democracynow.org/2024/11/7/robin_dg_kelley]

Dream Bigger than a Black Woman President Committing Genocide

After a bit of a hiatus, Crawdads & Taters is back to discuss the 2024 Presidential election, the ongoing genocide in Palestine and the limits of real political change under a capitalist, imperialist economic system. While identity politics are being sold to us as a smokescreen for progressive change, duping the public into believing that Kamala (as a black woman) will be the hope and change we've all been waiting for, C & T brings you back down-to-earth with a socialist perspective based in class consciousness and historical materialism. Thanks, as always, for your support and please consider becoming a subscriber for as little as $3/month at patreon.com/crawdadsandtaters [https://www.patreon.com/crawdadsandtaters]. And if you can't donate, then give us a good rating on your favorite podcast platform and share us with your friends. Reading Notes: Sanders Won the War of Ideas - [https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/04/20/sanders-won-the-war-of-ideas/] by Erin McCarley Democracy is dead - by Birrion Sondahl [https://birrion.substack.com/p/democracy-is-dead?utm_source=publication-search] Democracy Lost: A Report on the Fatally Flawed 2016 Democratic Primaries [https://www.p2016.org/chrnothp/Democracy_Lost_Update1_EJUSA.pdf] Clinton Donors Have Picked Their 2020 Democratic Presidential Nominee | Observer [https://observer.com/2017/07/donors-george-soros-steve-mnuchin-kamala-harris/] Black Left Critique of Kamala Harris [https://www.blackagendareport.com/black-left-critique-kamala-harris] US Is Reportedly Working to Prevent Conference on Geneva Convention Violations [https://truthout.org/articles/us-is-reportedly-working-to-prevent-conference-on-geneva-convention-violations/] Minnesota activists criticize Tim Walz for refusing to meet with Palestinians [https://mondoweiss.net/2024/08/minnesota-activists-criticize-tim-walz-for-refusing-to-meet-with-palestinians/] Harris shifts stance on fracking, healthcare and border [https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/vice-president-kamala-harris-shifts-stance-on-fracking-healthcare-and-border-democratic-party-border-security-police-reform-policies] 14 protestors calling on Walz to divest from Israel cited for trespassing at his residence [https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/02/29/14-people-cited-for-trespassing-during-protest-at-governors-home-in-st-paul]