Spart Talk
English-language podcast of the Spartacist League. Listen for a revolutionary Trotskyist perspective on key questions for the workers movement internationally.
Episodes
44 episodes
Lessons of the Russian Revolution for today - A conversation with Comrade Vincent
Mansa sits down with Vincent for a special episode to discuss some key lessons of the Russian Revolution for the struggles of the working class and oppressed today, and how these are crucial to addressing the crisis of the left. We focus on thr...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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1:02:21
What's up with Japan? A discussion with Comrades Philipp and Jeanne
Mansa is joined by Comrades Philipp and Jeanne from Tokyo to get educated on what's happening in Japan. There's a new Prime Minister in town, Sanae Takaichi, who has been nicknamed the Japanese Margaret Thatcher, the right is growing, attacks a...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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48:19
Defend Venezuela, defend Maduro against US imperialism! A conversation with Comrade Victor
Mansa is joined by Comrade Victor from Mexico to discuss the war drive against Venezuela and the attempts to oust Maduro by Trump. We discuss the need for an anti-imperialist united front of the Latino masses and the American working class, how...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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29:46
Revolutions? Fascism? What's going on in the world?! A conversation with Comrade Perrault
Mansa sits down with Comrade Perrault to discuss all the things happening in the world, from uprisings in the Global South to military buildups, wars and broken ceasefires, the growing right wing and gigantic stock market bubbles. In a time whe...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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1:02:22
Defend Julius Malema, defend South Africa against Trump! with Comrades Jesse and Arthur
Mansa is joined by Comrades Jesse and Arthur from Johannesburg to discuss the latest bombshell in South African politics: EFF leader Julius Malema being found guilty of gun-related offences, a development which could potentially cripple this ra...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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44:46
Political turmoil in France, but left in la la land - A conversation with Comrades Alexis and Sacramento
Mansa is joined by Comrades Alexis and Sacramento from Ligue trotskyste de France to discuss the never-ending governmental crisis. Recorded two days before the resignation of PM Lecornu (who lasted less than a month) we discuss why the ground b...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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49:23
Italian workers strike for Palestine! A conversation with Comrade Mauro
Mansa is joined by Comrade Mauro from Italy to discuss the recent strikes by Italian unions in defense of the Sumud Flotilla. Following Israel's attack on the flotilla, the unions have now called for a general strike on Friday, 3 October. Mansa...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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44:34
Communists answer Charlie Kirk - A discussion with Comrades Michael Davisson and Erica
Mansa is joined by comrades Michael Davisson and Erica from Workers Vanguard to talk about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We discuss why he should not have been killed, the coming backlash against the left, and most importantly, comrades tr...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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1:08:43
Six days that shook the British left! From Tommy Robinson to Your Party implosion, with Comrade Vincent
Mansa is back with Comrade Vincent to discuss what's shaking things up (in a bad way) for the left in Britain. We discuss the Tommy Robinson demonstration and why it was massive, the left's denial about the state of things, and why it needs to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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56:51
Ukraine war - A working class answer! with Comrade Perrault
Mansa sits down with Comrade Perrault to discuss what is unfortunately not discussed and debated more in the left: the Ukraine war. We discuss the current situation on the battlefield, the diplomatic faff and imperialist aims, and most cruciall...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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57:59
Mamdani-mania! How to avoid another AOC situationship, with the Just Break Already caucus in the DSA
It's a full house at Spart Talk as Mansa is joined by Brianna, Edward and Jack from the Just Break Already (JBA) caucus in the DSA (Dem Socialists of America). We discuss what went down at the recent DSA convention at which Jack was a delegate,...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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1:08:04
What is the permanent revolution? Revolutionary strategy for the Global South, with comrade Anna Mili
Mansa is joined by Anna Mili of the Trotskyist Group of Greece to discuss key questions for revolutionary strategy for the Global South, a burning question for the left as US imperialism turns the screws on the whole world, squeezing oppressed ...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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1:16:51
Lessons of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan - A conversation with Jon Brule
Mansa sits down with Jon Brule, longtime leader of the Spartacist League US and the ICL, to review the ICL's position on the Soviet intervention into Afghanistan in 1979 where we controversially raised the slogan "Hail Red Army!". We discuss th...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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41:23
Greece - The lessons of Tempi, with comrades Maria and Emilio
Mansa is joined by comrades Maria and Emilio from the Trotskyist Group of Greece to discuss the lessons of the Tempi struggle. Tempi refers to the train crash resultant of pure EU-led austerity that led to the death of 57 students, unleashing a...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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46:53
Political repression and how to fight it - Comrades Kat and Kate from the PDC explain
Mansa sits down with Comrades Kat and Kate from the Partisan Defence Committee to discuss the increase in political repression and its relation to the crisis of U.S. hegemony. Crucially, we try and understand why there isn't a united response i...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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44:34
China and the breakdown of the liberal world order - A conversation with Ray Bishop
Mansa is back with Ray Bishop, member of the editorial board of Spartacist, to discuss all things China, from how the CPC's strategy is undermining the defense of China, to the crazy Sparts writing an open letter to the very CPC they are critic...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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32:06
Labor under Trump - How workers must brace for reaction, with Comrades Michael and Tom
Mansa sits down with Michael Davisson, editor of Workers Vanguard, and Tom, a public transit worker, who recently came together in a workers' conference hosted by the Spartacist League U.S. which brought together workers from across the country...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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1:06:55
How the US empire dominates the globe - Comrade Vincent explains
Mansa is back with Vincent with the third instalment of their series on the world situation. We discuss the basic mechanics of the US empire going back to the end of WWII in order to understand the dynamics behind the rise of Trump, what's on t...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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1:01:44
Britain's new left party: Ditch the liberals, win the workers! Lessons of Corbyn with Comrades Eibhlin & Vincent
Mansa is joined by Comrades Eibhlin and Vincent from Spartacist League Britain to discuss the latest development on the British left: the announcement by Zarah Sultana that she will form a new left party with Corbyn. Since this announcement, th...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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1:03:00
Iran and the Marxists who failed - A discussion with Comrade Elizabeth
Mansa is joined by Comrade Elizabeth to discuss how the bulk of the international Marxist left failed the test posed by the US bombing of Iran. Instead of taking a clear and simple stand in defense of an oppressed country under attack by imperi...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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45:27
Why the American Empire won't be gradually defeated - A discussion with Comrade Vincent
Mansa is back with Vincent for round two of our discussion on the current world situation and the task of communists. In this episode we dive into the fundamental difference between a Marxist versus a gradualist understanding of how change happ...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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25:57
Why isn’t Zohran Mamdani a step forward for New York? Comrade Brianna explains
Mansa is joined by Brianna from New York to discuss what most leftists in the Anglosphere are talking about: the victory of Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primaries for mayor of NYC. While liberals and many on the left are rejoicing that they...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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49:46
The Empire Strikes Back! A discussion with Comrade Vincent
Note: This episode was recorded before Israel and the U.S. bombed Iran.Join Mansa and Vincent as they break down the key positions of the Spartacists in the current world situation. We will be doing a series of episodes on this - with mo...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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22:15
LA protests: Labor must beat back Trump terror! Comrades Lital and Sandra report from the ground
Mansa is joined by Lital and Sandra from LA as they report on the situation on the ground following ICE raids and anti-ICE protests. We discuss why the movement is weakening and how to defend immigrants. Short answer: organised labour must come...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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37:32
Why workers should stand with Iran! A discussion with Comrade Perrault
Join Mansa as she discusses Israel's aggression against Iran with Comrade Perrault. How should Marxists, and most importantly, workers, view this war, and what is the correct position? Perrault explains our approach to the war and why a refusal...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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34:17