Trickle-Down Socialism Pat Donohue, Dan Goldsbury, and C$ Burns

Pat talks to journalist Ben Norton of Multipolarista about multiple countries and regions in Latin America. The interview focuses on what we miss as consumers of US media, namely the working-class opinion of Socialist regimes like Maduro in Venezuela and the Cuban government. The topic of Puerto Rico also came up and Ben explains the devastating consequences that have come from the privatization of national utilities after Hurricane Maria. As a show, we have always been dedicated to countering mainstream media narratives and this episode takes that same focus to examine Latin American countries that are often misrepresented in American media. 

In the open, CMoney, Dan, and Pat provide a lot of context that will help the listener understand the issues discussed in interviews. Also discussed is the recent Congressional passage of a law allowing for Puerto Rico to hold a vote deciding its future: will Puerto Rico join the Union as the 51st state, vote for independence, or vote for something in between?




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CMoney talks to Kentucky Congressional Candidate, Progressive Democrat Connor Halbleib about his run in the whitest and second poorest district in the US. Halbleib outlines the ways in which a Progressive platform can appeal to working-class voters, even in a red district. The GOP incumbent in the district, Hal Rogers, has been in office since 1981 and is nicknamed the "Prince of Pork" for his ability to bring money to the district (despite the fact that this money mostly benefits the super-rich and corporations.) 

Connor explains that Medicare for All, while it would be transformative, is still a compromise position because it isn't the strongest single-payer option on the table. In a similar way, Connor explains each of the policies in his platform and why they would benefit the constituents of Kentucky's 5th district. Also discussed in the open and interview is the draft Supreme Court opinion from Justice Sam Alito which was leaked - a decision that would establish a new precedent on a woman's right to choose, essentially setting us back decades and making access to safe and legal abortion unavailable in many states. 

You can learn more about Connor Halbleib's campaign here: https://conorhalbleib.com/ 


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Pat talks to Joe Thomspon about the push to form a Union at a Santa Cruz, CA, Starbucks shop. Joe discussed how the Union-busting efforts undertaken at the direction of CEO Howard Schultz have backfired. Starbucks brought in help from high priced anti-union law firms, but it hasn't slowed the effort to form unions across the country. This episode focuses on the working conditions that led to a union push from Starbucks workers, the steps taken to register with the National Labor Relations Board, and the resolve of workers to stay with the fight despite countless efforts to bust the Union efforts. 

Also discussed, Joe Thompson's run for CA Assembly - CA AD28. You can follow Joe on Twitter @JoeForAssembly and you can learn more about their run for CA Assembly here  




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In this episode, Pat talks to Jason Call, candidate for Congress in Washington's 2nd District, about the need for Single-Payer Healthcare, the outsized influence of money in our political system, and what Call has been working for through Progressive Activism in the last 30 years. Jason Call started as a public school teacher and has been active in trying to get the Washington State Democratic Party to focus on Grassroots sources of funding instead of taking money from corporate lobbyists. Also discussed is the push for Single Payer healthcare in Washington State, which Jason has been doing through the group Whole Washington. Jason provides an example of how the lax regulation of Boeing jets, because of corporate influence on the regulatory committee, led to the 747 Max crashes. 

In the open, Dan, Pat, and CMoney define the term "Regulatory Capture" and give examples to help listeners understand this detrimental practice. Also discussed were the efforts to pass single payer at the state level, some recent Union wins, and more. 

Learn more about Jason Call's Campaign for Washington's 2nd district here

You can follow him on Twitter @CallforCongress 

Follow us @TrickleDownSoc 




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Pat, Dan, and C$ Burns open the episode, which features Travis Smith (@Extermin8) a Communist Party Activist, by discussing some of our own inherited anti-Communist Bias, we discussed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's grace and the dog-whistle racism she faced when being interviewed by GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee like Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) and we discussed some of the important background listeners might need to stay engaged in the interview. 
Pat and Travis talk about Travis' ideological journey from Evangelical, Conservative family in East Texas, always uncomfortable with the racism endemic on the Right, to an anti-Capitalist who first attended some meetings of Democratic Socialists of America but ended up finding himself identifying with and soon joining and engaging in activism with the Communist Party. The discussion centers around understanding how Communists aren't violent, rather the Revolution that is oft-discussed would most likely entail pushing people into struggle, aiming to radically reduce the economic hierarchy in the society, and eliminate Fascist elements (possibly through education, as an example.) None of this is violent if the Capitalists understand that the worker majority is determined to ensure every person's needs are met. Also discussed was Travis' belief that a Popular Front against Fascism is needed and that our current system of Capitalism is violent every day towards the disenfranchised, the unbanked, the unhoused, the incarcerated, and he uninsured. 
We ask listeners to keep an open mind as they listen - you might find you agree more than you disagree with a Communist. 
Communist Party USA: CPUSA.org
World Peace Council: wpc-in.org 
Travis' Etsy store 

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Pat talks to California resident, father, immigrant and indigenous advocate, Shervin Aazami who is running for US Congress in CA's 32nd district. Aazami brings a committed voice for fighting poverty: Housing First, public health advocacy for the unhoused, financial reform, the Green New Deal, and the public's overwhelming support for these bold programs was among topics discussed. As the child of Iranian immigrants by way of Italy, Aazami knows first-hand about both the opportunities in the US and the pitfalls of the predatory system of extraction that is our free-market, Capitalist system. 

Aazami shows deep knowledge of topics and brings life-experience that include lobbying Congress on behalf of indigenous groups. He spoke to Pat about the experience of having bills that were critical to the health of entire tribal groups tied to completely unrelated legislation. When elected leaders told Aazami that he should have "fought harder" for his cause, he knew that the system was rigged by corporate influence in the form of campaign sponsorship and other means. This episode focuses on two main topics: the system of extraction perpetuated by the undue influence of money on our political system and measures that SHOULD be passed into law which would eradicate poverty (for a sum of roughly 70 billion dollars in a year.)

For more on the Faircloth amendment (law which severely limits construction of new Federally subsidized housing) and contemporary attempts to block it: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/04/opinion/public-housing-faircloth-amendment-repeal.html

For more on Shervin Aazami, his policy positions, and his background: https://shervin4congress.com/


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