Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Episode: A Growing US Left

Date: October 3, 2019

Episode Overview

In this episode, Richard D. Wolff delves into recent labor developments, the debate over a wealth tax, the impact of anti-left purges on the American labor movement, and the structural inefficiencies of the US transportation system. In the second half, Wolff interviews Michael Brooks, host of The Michael Brooks Show and co-host of The Majority Report. Together, they discuss the surge of left media, shifting generational politics, international dimensions of activism, and prospects for the US left in the Trump era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

California Labor & Public Policy Updates

[00:10–07:05]

• LA Times Unionization:
  LA Times, historically anti-labor, saw workers vote overwhelmingly for unionization 14 months earlier, yet are still negotiating a first contract.

  “Anti unionism cuts deep at the Los Angeles Times.” (Wolff, [01:18])

• Kaiser Permanente Strike:
  80,000 Kaiser workers in California voted 98% in favor of strike, potentially the largest strike since the 1997 UPS action.

  “That’s where labor capital relations are heading.” (Wolff, [02:18])

• California Public Bank Legislation:
  A bill to create a California state-owned public bank sat on the governor's desk, signifying a major policy shift with nationwide implications.

  “A Bank owned and operated by the state of California… providing statewide competition to private banks.” (Wolff, [03:01])

Critique of the Private Automobile System

[07:06–09:55]

• Private cars cause the most air pollution and are the deadliest mode of transport in the US.

• Inefficiency when compared to public rail, streetcars, or buses.

• US reliance on private cars is due to auto company profit motives, not public good.

  “We have the private car because it was profitable, even though it was wasteful of resources and deadly.” (Wolff, [08:49])

• Emerging alternatives like car sharing and renewed calls for public transportation stem from economic pressures.

  “It's crazy to have the car sitting in the driveway; it's much more efficient to share them.” (Wolff, [09:09])

The Wealth Tax Debate

[09:56–12:54]

• Elizabeth Warren’s proposal only affects those with over $50 million.

  “All of you that are watching and listening, you can relax since I don’t have too many people in my audience who have $50 million or more.” (Wolff, [10:36])

• Conservative opposition labeled wealth taxes as 'confiscation' and claimed wealth taxes have been abandoned worldwide—a claim Wolff refutes.

  “This is simply stone cold false. It’s not true. Never was true.” (Wolff, [11:25])

• Many countries with wealth taxes (often at much lower thresholds): Argentina, Canada, France, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland.

  “Most of the wealth taxes… kick in at much lower amounts of money than Ms. Warren’s $50 million.” (Wolff, [12:06])

• Taxation is an ongoing class struggle.

  “Taxes are an object of contestation between the rich and the poor. Those that capitalism gives a lot of money to don’t want to pay taxes. And those that capitalism doesn’t give a lot of money to… don’t want to pay taxes either.” (Wolff, [12:13])

The Decline of Organized Labor

[12:55–15:37]

• Highlights Stephen Greenhouse’s new book: Beaten Down, Worked Up.

• Loss in real wages and labor conditions linked to union decline (now only 7% of private sector workers in unions).

  “The decline of the American working man and woman… has a great deal to do with the decline of the labor movement, the shrinkage in the number of people who are members of a union.” (Wolff, [13:54])

• Wolff adds: anti-socialist and anti-communist purges of the late 1940s–50s expelled the most militant union organizers, weakening the movement for decades.

  “This destroyed the most militant people in the labor movement, the people who gave their lives to it, the people who deeply believed it.” (Wolff, [14:54])

Interview with Michael Brooks

Why the Surge in Left Media?

[15:38–16:51]

• Michael Brooks: Success is due to economic conditions making people hungry for intellectually open, principled, and approachable left content—especially with an international focus.

  “There is a hunger for content that is both more… intellectually open and demanding, has a very clear left perspective, and is also entertaining and has an approachability.” (Brooks, [15:57])

Audience Demographics & Motivations

[16:52–19:18]

• 2008 crisis or its long-term aftermath shapes political worldview for many listeners, especially the young.

• There’s greater interest in global patterns and US responsibility in international crises (e.g., migration, coups).

  "People are in place to think a little bit more in terms of systems and patterns. And that's where the international stuff..." (Brooks, [18:16])

• US role in foreign policy is often omitted from mainstream immigration discussions.

  “But the notion that we are the pure victims, some unexplained process descending on us that we have no agency in producing, it’s... Amazing.” (Brooks, [18:56])

Internationalism and the Collapse of Old Political Consensus

[19:19–20:18]

• Audiences increasingly recognize and seek out international context—why similar leaders and crises emerge globally.
• Mainstream media fixation on centrist figures (Trudeau, Macron) contrasts with left media highlighting more structural patterns.

Generational Differences and Left Re-emergence

[20:19–21:34]

• Under-35 audience has grown up in a “crisis context”—politically restless and disillusioned with prior consensus.
• Older listeners often express relief or excitement that left ideas are returning to public discourse.

  “Some… over 35 are really almost like coming out of the shadows, like, wait, we can actually say this stuff again?” (Brooks, [20:46])

Taboos and Internal Critique

[21:35–23:00]

• The new left must guard against developing its own taboos, especially regarding internal critiques and strategy.

  “We need to make sure that there aren’t actual taboos that develop… in our own internal critiques of how we’re building our own culture, how we’re thinking strategically...” (Brooks, [22:34])

• No longer taboo to advocate bold policies, such as nationalization.

Assessing the New Left in the US

[23:01–24:40]

• There is growing intellectual energy and openness, but gaps in organizational capacity persist—especially in campaign mechanics and movement-building.

  “There is… an incredible intellectual openness and energy… But… we’re missing… the actual mechanics of how you organize, how you build campaigns.” (Brooks, [23:34])

The Trump Era—Continuities and Dangers

[24:41–26:07]

• Trump epitomizes, rather than deviates from, the long-term trajectory of the Republican Party and US capitalism.

  “At the end of the day, it is a white identity politics party. …He is taking the natural fulfillment of that project…” (Brooks, [25:12]) “Maybe this is the final sort of disgusting burst before we evolve or change it to something better.” (Brooks, [25:52])

Where is the US Headed?

[26:08–28:21]

• The 2020 Sanders campaign is pivotal; three scenarios going forward: Sanders wins, establishment victory (Biden), or Trump re-elected.

  “There’s three scenarios… I would not be surprised if any of those three things happened. …The momentum doesn’t stop, no matter what, even in catastrophic scenarios…” (Brooks, [27:00])

• The continued global pattern of crises, even after apparent political “victories,” means ongoing engagement is critical.

Notable Quotes

• “We have the private car because it was profitable, even though it was wasteful of resources and deadly.” — Richard D. Wolff ([08:49])
• “This is simply stone cold false. It’s not true. Never was true.” — Richard D. Wolff on claims other countries have abandoned wealth taxes ([11:25])
• “There is a hunger for content that is both more… intellectually open and demanding, has a very clear left perspective, and is also entertaining and has an approachability.” — Michael Brooks ([15:57])
• “Some… over 35 are really almost like coming out of the shadows, like, wait, we can actually say this stuff again?” — Michael Brooks ([20:46])
• “At the end of the day, it is a white identity politics party. …He is taking the natural fulfillment of that project…” — Michael Brooks on Trump’s GOP ([25:12])
• “Maybe this is the final sort of disgusting burst before we evolve or change it to something better.” — Michael Brooks ([25:52])
• “There is… an incredible intellectual openness and energy… But… we’re missing… the actual mechanics of how you organize, how you build campaigns.” — Michael Brooks ([23:34])

Important Timestamps

• CA Labor Updates, Public Bank News: [00:10–03:20]
• Critique of Private Automobiles: [07:06–09:55]
• Wealth Tax Debate: [09:56–12:54]
• Decline of Labor, Union Purges: [12:55–15:37]
• Interview with Michael Brooks—Start: [15:38]
• Left Media Success & Audience: [15:55–19:39]
• Generational Differences: [20:18–21:34]
• Taboos in the Left: [21:35–23:00]
• Strengths and Challenges of the Left: [23:00–24:40]
• Trump and US Politics: [24:53–26:07]
• Future Scenarios for US Left: [26:08–28:21]

Tone & Style

The episode maintains an engaged, informative, and accessible tone, reflecting both Wolff’s characteristic clear-eyed critique and Brooks’ blend of intellectual rigor and approachability. The conversation is candid, thoughtful, and grounded in both structural analysis and lived realities.

This episode provides a compelling snapshot of the evolving US left, its intellectual resurgence, generational divides, and the organizational challenges and opportunities confronting American progressives.