Give Them An Argument

Ben Burgis
  • 4.5 (146)
  • TV & Film
  • Updated Weekly

Give Them An Argument is a YouTube show and podcast dedicated to building a smarter, funnier and more strategic Left. New episodes are live on YouTube on Monday nights with an exclusive postgame for GTAA patrons after the main show. (To become a patron, go to patreon.com/benburgis and sign up for the monthly cost of a milkshake at a 50s nostalgia diner in 1994.) Past guests have included Slavoj Žižek, Richard Wolff, David Pizarro, Gregory Sadler, Glenn Greenwald, Krystal Ball, Bhaskar Sunkara, Sam Seder, Ana Kasparian, Emma Vigeland, Matt Christman, and Amber Frost. The show has also featured debates between host Ben Burgis and opponents ranging from Walter Block to Charlie Kirk.Ben is a philosophy professor, Jacobin columnist, and frequent debater. He did a regular "Debunk" segment on the Michael Brooks Show until 2020. He's appeared on the Debate Night with Charlie Kirk, System Update with Glenn Greenwald, Rising, Krystal, Kyle & Friends, the Majority Report w/Sam Seder & the Joe Rogan Experience.benburgis.compatreon.com/benburgis

  1. 16h ago

    Marxist Analysis of "the PMC" (+ Defending DSA)

    In this episode, we play a presentation Ben Burgis gave at UC-Irvine on how to make sense of "elites" in Marxist class analysis (basically, are "the PMC" really a separate class, or part of the working class, or what), and then apply the point to thinking about some very bad recent criticisms of the DSA. Read Ben's Jacobin article  "DSA’s Critics Are Missing the Point About the Working Class": https://jacobin.com/2026/07/class-politics-dsa-media-criticism Read the transcript of the UC-Irvine talk (republished as "How Should We Fit Salaried "Elites" Into Marxist Class Analysis?") [NOTE: This is where the Erik Olin Wright diagram of fine-grained class positions referred to in the second chunk of the episode is, for anyone who wants to follow along with that]: https://benburgis.substack.com/p/how-should-we-fit-salaried-elites?utm_source=publication-search Pre-order Ben's book (co-written with Bhaskar Sunkara and Mike Beggs) "The Blueprint: How Socialism Can Work in the Real World") from worker-owned bookseller Red Emmas: https://redemmas.org/titles/52310-the-blueprint-how-socialism-can-work-in-the-real-world/ Register to attend the book launch in September 29th in Los Angeles: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-blueprint-how-socialism-can-work-in-the-real-world-tickets-2001094549666 Or the event two days later in New York: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-blueprint-how-socialism-can-work-in-the-real-world-tickets-2001236203356 Follow Ben on Twitter @JacobinBen [NOTE: The previous account was hacked!] Follow GTAA on Twitter: @Gtaa_Show Become a GTAA Patron and receive numerous benefits ranging from occasional patron-exclusive content to access to the GTAA Discord to our undying love and gratitude for helping us keep this thing going: patreon.com/benburgis Read the weekly philosophy Substack: benburgis.substack.com

    Marxist Analysis of "the PMC" (+ Defending DSA)

  2. 6d ago

    What Would a Socialist Foreign Policy Look Like? (ft. Deep State Kuba and Jason Myles) (Podcast Version)

    In this crossover with THIS IS REVOLUTION podcast, Ben Burgis and Jason Myles chat with Deep State Kuba about socialist foreign policy and in particular how a post-capitalist society of the kind described in Ben's new book (co-written w/Bhaskar Sunkara and Mike Beggs) could interact with, and survive its interactions with, the surrounding capitalist world. Pre-order the book from worker-owned bookseller Red Emmas: https://redemmas.org/titles/52310-the-blueprint-how-socialism-can-work-in-the-real-world/ Register to attend the book launch in September 29th in Los Angeles: https://moondough.i234.me/tools/tickets/buy.html?event=9H7UE84J Follow Kuba on Twitter: @DrKuba2 Follow Jason on Twittter: @J_Myles_TIR Follow Ben on Twitter @JacobinBen [NOTE: The previous account was hacked!] Follow GTAA on Twitter: @Gtaa_Show Become a GTAA Patron and receive numerous benefits ranging from occasional patron-exclusive content to access to the GTAA Discord to our undying love and gratitude for helping us keep this thing going: patreon.com/benburgis Read the weekly philosophy Substack: benburgis.substack.com

    What Would a Socialist Foreign Policy Look Like? (ft. Deep State Kuba and Jason Myles) (Podcast Version)

  3. Sep 10

    Don't RETVRN: Liberal Modernity as the Basis for Socialism (ft. Matt McManus and Florian Maiwald)

    Florian  Maiwald and Matt McManus join Ben Burgis to discuss Florian's essays in Matt's new book, "What is Liberal Socialism?" (and the larger themes of the collection). Order Matt's book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/826323/what-is-liberal-socialism-by-matt-mcmanus/ Pre-order Florian's new book: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/zer0-books/our-books/outsourced-emancipation And while you're pre-ordering books,  preorder Ben's new book (co-written w/Bhaskar Sunkara and Mike Beggs), "The Blueprint: How Socialism Can Work in the Real World": https://redemmas.org/titles/52310-the-blueprint-how-socialism-can-work-in-the-real-world/ And last but definitely not least, pre-order Florian's new book! Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattPolProf Follow Ben on Twitter @JacobinBen [NOTE: The previous account was hacked!] Follow GTAA on Twitter: @Gtaa_Show Become a GTAA Patron and receive numerous benefits ranging from occasional patron-exclusive content to access to the GTAA Discord to our undying love and gratitude for helping us keep this thing going: patreon.com/benburgis Read the weekly philosophy Substack: benburgis.substack.com

    Don't RETVRN: Liberal Modernity as the Basis for Socialism (ft. Matt McManus and Florian Maiwald)

  4. Sep 7

    Is Capitalism REALLY the Best We Can Do? (Ben Burgis Lecture in Michigan)

    Last Thursday, Ben Burgis gave the first lecture of the new year at the Ethics Center at Western Michigan University, to talk about the themes of his new book (co-written with Bhaskar Sunkara and Mike Beggs), "The Blueprint: How Socialism Can Work in the Real World." (Lecture starts around the 5:30 mark.) Register to attend the launch event in September 29th in Los Angeles: https://moondough.i234.me/tools/tickets/buy.html?event=9H7UE84J Pre-order the book from worker-owned bookseller Red Emmas: https://redemmas.org/titles/52310-the-blueprint-how-socialism-can-work-in-the-real-world/ Follow Ben on Twitter @JacobinBen [NOTE: The previous account was hacked!] Follow GTAA on Twitter: @Gtaa_Show Become a GTAA Patron and receive numerous benefits ranging from occasional patron-exclusive content to access to the GTAA Discord to our undying love and gratitude for helping us keep this thing going: patreon.com/benburgis Read the weekly philosophy Substack: benburgis.substack.com

    Is Capitalism REALLY the Best We Can Do? (Ben Burgis Lecture in Michigan)

  5. Aug 24

    Ben Burgis Goes on Israeli TV and DEBUNKS Mayo-Brained Talking Points

    Yesterday, Ben Burgis went on English-language Israeli cable channel i24 to argue about the role of Israel/Palestine in the rise of the democratic socialist left in the United States. We'll play the whole segment and break it down! Read the Jacobin article mentioned in the episode ("The Problem With Israel Is So Much Bigger Than Netanyahu"): https://jacobin.com/2025/08/democrats-bernie-netanyahu-zionism-apartheid Pre-order Ben (and Bhaskar Sunkara and Mike Beggs's) new book "The Blueprint: How Socialism Can Work in the Real World" from worker-owned bookshop Red Emmas: https://redemmas.org/titles/52310-the-blueprint-how-socialism-can-work-in-the-real-world/ Follow Ben on Twitter @JacobinBen [NOTE: The previous account was hacked!] Follow GTAA on Twitter: @Gtaa_Show Become a GTAA Patron and receive numerous benefits ranging from occasional patron-exclusive content to access to the GTAA Discord to our undying love and gratitude for helping us keep this thing going: patreon.com/benburgis Read the weekly philosophy Substack: benburgis.substack.com

    Ben Burgis Goes on Israeli TV and DEBUNKS Mayo-Brained Talking Points

  6. Aug 3

    Socialism and Human Nature (ft. Matt McManus)

    Matt McManus joins Ben Burgis to talk about Matt’s new article “Socialists Aren’t Naive About Human Nature,” and more generally about why attempts to base anti-socialist arguments on human imperfection miss the point. Read Matt’s article: https://jacobin.com/2026/07/socialism-human-nature-morality Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattPolProf Follow Ben on Twitter @JacobinBen [NOTE: The previous account was hacked!] Follow GTAA on Twitter: @Gtaa_Show Become a GTAA Patron and receive numerous benefits ranging from occasional patron-exclusive content to access to the GTAA Discord to our undying love and gratitude for helping us keep this thing going: patreon.com/benburgis Read the weekly philosophy Substack: benburgis.substack.com

    Socialism and Human Nature (ft. Matt McManus)

  7. Jul 24

    A Socialist's Dialogue with Liberalism (ft. Matt McManus)

    Matt McManus joins Ben to talk about Matt's new article on Marxist philosopher G.A. Cohen's "engagement with the best of the liberal tradition," and to wrap up Matt and Ben's conversation about Cohen from the last time Matt was on the show. Read Matt's article: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/a-socialists-dialogue-with-liberalism/?ref=articles-and-essays-newslettert Read Ben's essay "Justice and Virtue": https://benburgis.substack.com/p/justice-and-virtue Link you can give your library to order Matt and Ben's new book on Cohen: https://www.amazon.com/Analytical-Marxism-Democratic-Socialism-Century/dp/3032028930/ Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattPolProf Follow Ben on Twitter @JacobinBen [NOTE: The previous account was hacked!] Follow GTAA on Twitter: @Gtaa_Show Become a GTAA Patron and receive numerous benefits ranging from occasional patron-exclusive content to access to the GTAA Discord to our undying love and gratitude for helping us keep this thing going: patreon.com/benburgis Read the weekly philosophy Substack: benburgis.substack.com

    A Socialist's Dialogue with Liberalism (ft. Matt McManus)

  8. Jul 22

    The Iran War’s Most Embarrassingly Wrong Pundits (ft. Branko Marcetic)

    Branko Marcetic and Ben Burgis count down the commentators who were most embarrassingly  wrong about Iran. Read Branko's article: https://jacobin.com/2026/07/iran-war-pundits-fox-trump Follow Branko on Twitter: @BMarchetich Follow Ben on Twitter @JacobinBen [NOTE: The previous account was hacked!] Follow GTAA on Twitter: @Gtaa_Show Become a GTAA Patron and receive numerous benefits ranging from occasional patron-exclusive content to access to the GTAA Discord to our undying love and gratitude for helping us keep this thing going: patreon.com/benburgis Read the weekly philosophy Substack: benburgis.substack.com

    The Iran War’s Most Embarrassingly Wrong Pundits (ft. Branko Marcetic)
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4.5
out of 5
146 Ratings

About

Give Them An Argument is a YouTube show and podcast dedicated to building a smarter, funnier and more strategic Left. New episodes are live on YouTube on Monday nights with an exclusive postgame for GTAA patrons after the main show. (To become a patron, go to patreon.com/benburgis and sign up for the monthly cost of a milkshake at a 50s nostalgia diner in 1994.) Past guests have included Slavoj Žižek, Richard Wolff, David Pizarro, Gregory Sadler, Glenn Greenwald, Krystal Ball, Bhaskar Sunkara, Sam Seder, Ana Kasparian, Emma Vigeland, Matt Christman, and Amber Frost. The show has also featured debates between host Ben Burgis and opponents ranging from Walter Block to Charlie Kirk.Ben is a philosophy professor, Jacobin columnist, and frequent debater. He did a regular "Debunk" segment on the Michael Brooks Show until 2020. He's appeared on the Debate Night with Charlie Kirk, System Update with Glenn Greenwald, Rising, Krystal, Kyle & Friends, the Majority Report w/Sam Seder & the Joe Rogan Experience.benburgis.compatreon.com/benburgis

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Burgis
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    318
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Give Them An Argument
  • Show Website
    Give Them An Argument

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