Red Menace

Alyson and Breht record an emergency podcast on the current riots in LA, and resistance across the country, to mass deportations. Together they highlight recent events, discuss the function of mass deporations in a decaying capitalist system, analyze the spontaneous and militant community response, how terrorizing undocumented workers is a form of labor discipline, the fascist tactic of scapegoating the powerless for the crimes and chaos of the powerful, the role of AI in both displacing labor as well as bolstering the repressive state apparatus, and much more. Support Red Menace on Patreon  [https://www.patreon.com/c/TheRedMenace] Learn more about Red Menace and Rev Left Radio: www.revleftradio.com [https://revleftradio.com/]

In this episode, Alyson and Breht explore Friedrich Engels’ Dialectics of Nature, a bold and underappreciated attempt to apply dialectical materialism to the natural sciences. Often dismissed or misunderstood, this unfinished work offers a sweeping view of reality - from physics and chemistry to evolution, human consciousness, and ecological breakdown - through the lens of Marxist philosophy. Together, they unpack Engels’ central claim that nature itself unfolds dialectically: through contradiction, motion, transformation, and interconnection. They cover the three laws of dialectics, Engels’ materialist account of human evolution, his critique of mechanistic science, vulgar materialism, and metaphysical thinking, and his early warnings about capitalism’s ecological consequences. Along the way, they connect these insights to Marx’s concept of species-being, and reflect on what this revolutionary worldview offers in the age of climate crisis, hyper-alienation, and late capitalist decay. Finally, Alyson and Breht have a fascinating open-ended discussion about the existential and spiritual implications of dialectical materialism as a worldview. Whether you're new to dialectical materialism or looking to deepen your understanding, this conversation reframes Engels’ work as a profound contribution not just to Marxism, but to the philosophy of science itself.   Here are the episodes recommended for further listening in the episode: * Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 - Karl Marx [https://redmenace.libsyn.com/economic-and-philosophic-manuscripts-of-1844-karl-marx] * On Contradiction - Mao [https://redmenace.libsyn.com/on-contradiction-mao] * Marxism 101: Intro to Historical Materialism (and the Necessity of Socialism) [https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/marxism-101-intro-to-historical-materialism] * The Nature of All Things: Spinoza’s Philosophical Odyssey [https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/the-nature-of-all-things-spinozas-philosophical-odyssey]   ------------------------------------------ Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio [https://www.patreon.com/revleftradio] or here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace [https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace] Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Rev Left Radio & Red Menace HERE [https://revleftradio.com/]

In this episode, Alyson and Breht explore Friedrich Engels’ Dialectics of Nature, a bold and underappreciated attempt to apply dialectical materialism to the natural sciences. Often dismissed or misunderstood, this unfinished work offers a sweeping view of reality - from physics and chemistry to evolution, human consciousness, and ecological breakdown - through the lens of Marxist philosophy. Together, they unpack Engels’ central claim that nature itself unfolds dialectically: through contradiction, motion, transformation, and interconnection. They cover the three laws of dialectics, Engels’ materialist account of human evolution, his critique of mechanistic science, vulgar materialism, and metaphysical thinking, and his early warnings about capitalism’s ecological consequences. Along the way, they connect these insights to Marx’s concept of species-being, and reflect on what this revolutionary worldview offers in the age of climate crisis, hyper-alienation, and late capitalist decay. Finally, Alyson and Breht have a fascinating open-ended discussion about the existential and spiritual implications of dialectical materialism as a worldview. Whether you're new to dialectical materialism or looking to deepen your understanding, this conversation reframes Engels’ work as a profound contribution not just to Marxism, but to the philosophy of science itself. ---------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio [https://www.patreon.com/revleftradio] or here: https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace [https://www.patreon.com/TheRedMenace] Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Rev Left Radio & Red Menace HERE [https://revleftradio.com/]

This is small snippet from a much larger episode coming soon wherein Alyson and Breht cover Friedrich Engel’s famous text “Dialectics of Nature”, in which Engels argues for dialectical materialism as a scientifically grounded, philosophically rigorous, and holistic worldview—one that understands nature, society, and thought as deeply interconnected and constantly evolving. Find the clip used at the end of this teaser here: https://youtu.be/YbgnlkJPga4 [https://youtu.be/YbgnlkJPga4]

In this episode, Breht welcomes on Seth from Omaha Tenants United [https://omahatenantsunited.wordpress.com/] for an in-studio discussion about OTU's slate of recent successes organizing several tenant unions, and a subsequent new legal assault on the organization by the local landlord lobby. The legal implications of this attack are truly monumental for virtually all forms of organizing. They also discuss how landlordism is a feudal hangover with modern capitalist dynamics, the differences between tenant organizing and labor organizing, tenant organizing as a particularly potent site of struggle, and the material underpinnings of recent superstructural shifts in many people's views of landlords. Local media interviews Seth on the issue HERE [https://www.3newsnow.com/central-omaha/omaha-tenants-united-faces-allegations-of-unauthorized-practice-of-law] OTU's Drake Court Tenant Union (Local 252) covered in local media HERE [https://www.3newsnow.com/central-omaha/drake-court-tenants-unite-to-demand-better-living-conditions-from-property-management] Increasing number of renters turning to tenant unions in the Omaha metro HERE [https://www.wowt.com/2025/01/25/increasing-number-renters-turning-tenant-unions-omaha-metro/] Fed up tenants: Renters form unions to hold leasing companies accountable HERE [https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-renters-form-unions-to-hold-leasing-companies-accountable/62684760]   Learn more, support, and contact OTU here: https://omahatenantsunited.wordpress.com/ [https://omahatenantsunited.wordpress.com/] ------------------------------------------- Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Red Menace AND Rev Left Radio HERE [https://revleftradio.com/] Outro Beat Prod. by flip da hood [https://www.youtube.com/@flipaynahood]