Resources
This page is a constant work in progress. We want to build a space that serves as a repository of content we find important and useful.
News Outlets
"Democracy Now! produces a daily, global, independent news hour hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González... Democracy Now! is audience-supported, which means that our editorial independence is never compromised by corporate or government interests." (The also have a great daily podcast)
"The Intercept is an award-winning news organization dedicated to holding the powerful accountable through fearless, adversarial journalism. Its in-depth investigations and unflinching analysis focus on politics, war, surveillance, corruption, the environment, technology, criminal justice, the media, and more."
"Truthout works to spark action by revealing systemic social, racial, economic and environmental injustice and providing a platform for progressive and transformative ideas, through in-depth investigative reporting and critical analysis."
"A voice for peace, social justice, and the common good! Since 1909, The Progressive magazine has aimed to amplify voices of dissent and voices under-represented in the mainstream, with a goal of championing grassroots progressive politics."
"Toward Freedom is a news and analysis publication offering a grassroots perspective on world events. We cover global politics, protest movements, government and corporate abuses of power, human rights, and other pressing topics."
Global Affairs Podcasts
"Progressive politics, news, and culture produced by leftist humans, not algorithms or AI." (These folks are curating news from dozens of different progressive outlets to provide a comprehensive roundup)
"News and views about the world for those who want to change it."
(These folks are running a great progressive, conversation based podcast and invite on a wide range of progressive voices as guests)
"The longest running independent international affairs podcast features in-depth interviews with policymakers, journalists and experts around the world who discuss global news, international relations, global development and key trends driving world affairs.
"A show with an eclectic variety of guests covering a broad range of topics including culture, current events, international relations, foreign policy, technology, cinema, literature, history, and more."
"Each week, Foreign Policy Live will feature a substantive conversation on world affairs." (Good for a sense of what major voices in positions of power are saying, generally defends the status quo)
"The World Next Week previews upcoming world events." (Center-left outlet, use for a sense of what the establishment left is talking about)
Books & Journals
A 160-page journal published every two months from London, New Left Review analyses world politics, the global economy, state powers and protest movements; contemporary social theory, history and philosophy; cinema, literature, heterodox art and aesthetics. It runs a regular book review section and carries interviews, essays, topical comments and signed editorials on political issues of the day.
Are Prisons Obsolete - Angela Davis
"A short, impassioned, argument for abolition. Davis eloquently points out that mass incarceration has had little or no effect on crime, how disproportionate numbers of the poor and minorities end up in prison, and the obscene profits the system generates."
The Right to Sex - Amia Srinivasan
"She discusses a range of fraught relationships—between discrimination and preference, pornography and freedom, rape and racial injustice, punishment and accountability, students and teachers, pleasure and power, capitalism and liberation... a provocation and a promise, transforming many of our most urgent political debates and asking what it might mean to be free."
Technofeudalism - Yanis Varoufakis
"Insane sums of money that were supposed to re-float our economies in the wake of the financial crisis and the pandemic have ended up supercharging big tech's hold over every aspect of the economy. Capitalism's twin pillars - markets and profit - have been replaced with big tech's platforms and rents. Meanwhile, with every click and scroll, we labour like serfs to increase its power. Welcome to technofeudalism."
A History of Equality - Thomas Piketty
"We know [inequality] has increased dramatically in many parts of the world over the past two generations. No one has done more to reveal the problem than Thomas Piketty. Now, in this surprising and powerful new work, Piketty reminds us that the grand sweep of history gives us reasons to be optimistic."
The Dawn of Everything - Graeber & Wengrow
"A dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolution—from the development of agriculture and cities to the origins of the state, democracy, and inequality—and revealing new possibilities for human emancipation."
Science Podcasts
"The mathematician and author Steven Strogatz interviews leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time." (My current favorite science communication podcast -Ohan)
"Scientists talking to scientists, but accessible to anyone. We are living in a golden age of biology research. Big Biology is a podcast that tells the stories of scientists tackling some of the biggest unanswered questions in biology."
"I talk with many of the best minds who work at the interface of neuroscience and AI, or have a vision about how these two fields might connect. You’ll learn about cutting edge research, the newest theories about brains and AI, and hear first-hand from the experts how their scientific path led them to this exciting field."
"Susan Valot narrates in-depth news episodes based on Quanta Magazine's articles about mathematics, physics, biology and computer science."
"Sean Carroll hosts conversations with the world's most interesting thinkers. Science, society, philosophy, culture, arts, and ideas." Sean Carroll is a professor of Physics at Johns Hopkins University, and part of the Santa Fe Institute.
"Simplifying Complexity is a podcast about the underlying principles of complex systems. On the show, we explore the key concepts of complexity science with expert minds from around the world. Each episode focuses on an interview where we break down a specific concept in detail."