Emma and Chloe give each other the combined Christmas and birthday present of a whole episode about class struggle in the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity.

Emma and Chloe discuss their respective weekend experiences of shutting down a coal port and spying on a far right rally.

"Understanding the net zero circus" by Lily Campbell in Red Flag

"The far right is organising. We have to resist" by Anneke Demanuele in Red Flag

Chloe and Emma discuss that meeting between NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump. They talk about what the meeting and Mamdani's campaign reveal about the limitations of a strategy for social change that looks to the Democratic Party.

Some further reading:

"Mamdani, that meeting and why the Left needs to wake up" by Sarah Garnham for Red Flag

"After the surreal summit" by Ashley Smith for Tempest

In this episode, Chloe and Emma explain the socialist theory of the trade unions. We talk about the trade union bureaucracy and the rank-and-file socialist strategy in the unions.

Chloe and Emma discuss the protest at the Indo-Pacific arms expo in Sydney, and what it reveals about Australian imperialism. We talk about the AUKUS deal, why Australian politicians are so committed to the US alliance, and their imperialist plans for the Indo-Pacific region.

Further reading:

News.com.au article: "Pro-Palestine activist ‘surrounded’ by cops at press conference after 13 arrested at arms expo blockade"

"AUKUS deal should be scrapped" by Tom Bramble in Red Flag

Chloe and Emma talk about the major shift in world politics in 2025. The political, economic and social structures of world capitalism are being reshaped to meet the demands of a new era of instability and imperialism. From the new Trump administration and the rise of other vicious far right forces, to the ramping up of imperialist tensions. We also point to the mass struggles against the system in recent months and years: the Gen Z revolutions in Nepal, Madagascar, Indonesia, Morroco and elsewhere; the mass movement for Palestine; European struggles against austerity and genocide that have included general strikes. This is a moment of rapid transformation - socialists need to understand the situation and make the most of the opportunities to build a revolutionary socialist alternative to capitalism.

Further reading

"Are we living in a new world order?" - by Eleanor Morley in Red Flag

"A new international political situation" by Jordan Humphreys in Red Flag

Emma and Chloe critique mutual aid from a socialist perspective and discuss Dean Spade's 2020 book Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (And the Next). While mutual aid might feel good, we argue that it can't meet the needs of working class people, can't challenge the capitalist state or the bosses, and won't help us build the socialist party we need.

Further Reading:

"Mutual aid is nice but it doesn't challenge capitalism" by Erin Russell in Red Flag

Emma and Chloe discuss the ceasefire in Gaza, before an interview with Josh Lees, eye witness to the historic general strikes for Palestine in Italy. Josh is a regular on the pod, a socialist activist for Palestine and leader of the historic March for Humanity across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Further reading:

Italy's general strike shows the way forward - by Josh Lees

Ceasefire in Gaza: relief but not enough - by Tom Bramble