Chimp Politics

Ever wonder why Canada didn’t become the 14th colony during the American War of Independence? It turns out, America invited Canada to join. Then, when they turned down the invitation, invaded. Then again in 1812. In this episode we return to States that Weren’t: Canada. Plus, how ... Show More

America is littered with lots of almost-states, which very nearly joined the Union in their own right, but for some reason did not. In today’s episode we cover Vandalia, Transylvania, Westylvania, Franklin, and Nickajack. By investigating these almost-states, we delve into consti ... Show More

This week New York City Democrats held their primary for mayor, and nominated Zohran Kwame Mamdani. Mamdani is a Democratic Socialist who promises to implement free bussing, a $30 per hour minimum wage, universal childcare, and a government-run grocery store program. Hosts of the ... Show More

Here's a thought experiment: You want to spend a reasonably large sum of money providing assistance to a group of people with limited means. There's a lot of ways you might do that with a lot of strings and safeguards involved, but what about just giving them money -- "get cash d ... Show More

This week Jason and Kevin discuss the Liberal Socialism; what it is, where it comes from,  its impact on the development of the left, its prospects, and its limitations. What Is Liberal Socialism? https://www.liberalcurrents.com/what-is-liberal-socialism/ The Idea of a Liberal So ... Show More

Professor and author Matt McManus returns to the show to discuss his newest book, "The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism". Together they explore the major themes of the book, hash out the disagreements they have between revolutionary Marxism and democratic socialism, explore ... Show More

Who deserves public assistance from the government? This age-old question has been revived by policymakers, pundits, and activists following the massive economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Anne Whitesell takes up this timely debate, showing us how our welfare system, in its ... Show More

A new proposal from the Biden administration calls for a nationwide cap on rent increases. Economists think that’s a terrible idea. We revisit a 2019 episode to hear why. SOURCES:Tommy Andersson, professor of economics at Lund University.Vicki Been, professor of law at New York U ... Show More

Jim makes the case for universal basic income, takes a critical look at "poverty tourism" in South Africa and proposes splitting America up into different countries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Forget Christianity, Judaism, New Age Spirituality, and Buddhism, a new type of religion drives 21st century Western thought. It goes by the shadowy name of Neoliberalism: the commodification of everything; Markets and the private sector ascendent; The deliberate attempt to reduc ... Show More

On today's episode Nicole Roussell and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss Kamala Harris's newly released tax proposals, Trump's 2017 tax cuts that will expire in 2025, and the role the capitalist system uses taxes to play in making the rich richer. Professor Richard Wolff is ... Show More

For the past month, chaos and confusion have gripped Washington and the federal government. Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, have served as an iron fist of the Trump administration—ransacking government agencies, lighting fires in various department ... Show More

Economic inequality has become a linchpin of modern politics. As nations around the world face a reckoning on racial and social justice and work to combat the economic impacts of the pandemic, we ask: Is it time to redistribute the wealth? Should we address growing inequality by ... Show More