Red Flag Radio

Emma and Chloe discuss the appalling US-Israeli war on Iran. They explain why Trump has started this war, the Australian government's response, and the recent sordid history of US imperialism. "Why the US is attacking Iran" by Tom Bramble in Red Flag

Chloe and Emma talk about the police riot in Sydney orchestrated by Chris Minns. The NSW government sent 3,500 police to bash, stampede and pepperspray a peaceful pro-Palestine demonstration of 20-30,000 people, against the rolling out of the red carpet for a war criminal who should be in the Hague. We talk about what this event reveals about the police, the Australian Labor Party and the Australian ruling classes' commitment to Israel.

Chloe and Emma take down the rightwing, racist campaign against the Palestine movement since the Bondi massacre. NB: Since we recorded this episode, the Greens have indicated they will vote down the Hate Speech bill.

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

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 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 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

Workers in Europe have been rising up to fight for Palestine and against their own governments. It all began with the "bloquons touts" movement in France, which mobilised millions of workers and students to block everything to oppose their government's latest austerity bill - they shut down railway stations, blockaded city squares and went on strikes across public sector work places. Next, something incredible happened. Up to 2 million workers in Italy went on strike and blocked everything, inspired by the French movement. Thanks to pressure from left wing unions and the radical youth Palestine movement, major unions called the first ever general strike to oppose the genocide in Gaza, to end their government's complicity, and in solidarity with the Global Sumud flotilla. This wonderful show of solidarity should serve as an inspiration for radicals across the world. In this special episode, Emma interviews a French revolutionary socialist, Aurelien Gautreau, and an Italian leftist journalist, Francesco Zambelli, about the strikes in their countries. Aurelien is a member of the NPA-R (New anticapitalist party - revolutionaries) in France and Francesco works for Italian leftist radio station, Radio onda d'urto.

This week Emma and Chloe discuss the disturbing world of the manosphere. They discuss leading figures like Andrew Tate and Charlie Kirk, unravel the twisted logic of their talking points, and explain how the rise of the online misogynist right has been enabled by the institutions of mainstream capitalism. Lastly they go into depth on how revolutionary socialist politics are absolutely necessary to confront this vile phenomenon.Further Reading on the Red Flag Website: Andrew Tate is a misogynistic monster pimp, by Sarah Garnham University of Technology Sydney stands with boys with big feelings, by Anneke Demanuele Capitalism can’t end women’s oppression: we need a revolution, by Louise O'Shea

In this special bonus episode, Chloe discusses the historic March for Humanity over Sydney Harbour Bridge with its organiser - lead Palestine Action Group activist and Socialist Alternative member Josh Lees. Josh has been catapulted into the headlines by the runaway success of the protest, which drew a crowd of 300,000 in defiance of NSW government and police attempts to stop it marching. Josh explains what led up to such a massive action, why it had to happen now, and the importance of socialist politics in the struggle for a free Palestine.Links: Come to Socialism Conference in Sydney to see Josh speak in person. Alternatively, get tickets to the Socialism conferences in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Read more on the Red Flag website: Won't Somebody Think of Poor Israel?, by Josh Lees Making history on Sydney Harbour Bridge: massive March for Humanity, by April Holcombe,

Chloe spoke with Rowan Cahill, radical historian and anti-war activist who refused to be drafted into the Vietnam war. They discuss the resistance to the draft in Australia, the forgotten working class resistance to the Vietnam war & its relevance for today’s fight against militarism & imperialism. Links: Rowan’s Conscientious Objector statement Siege of Sydney University 1968 Blog post about Louis Christophedes Ken Mansell archives Timeline of the Australian anti-war movement A people’s history of the Vietnam War - Red Flag

Red Flag Radio talks to Brendan Stanton, an American socialist and trade unionist living in Melbourne. Brendan organised struggles for immigrant rights and worker solidarity for 12 years in Houston, Texas. He explains what's happening in the US right now from the recent LA protests in response to Trump's anti-migrant escalation, to the origins of ICE and the history of the US-Mexico border.

Emma and Chloe had a live conversation about all the things that make them mad in 2025, at the Marxism conference in Melbourne. They talked about Trump, wacky Auspol, bad takes on the left, lesser-known expropriatable billionaires and more, with fantastic audience participation to boot.