The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Episode 3624: Starbucks Workers Strike; Organizing for Climate Survival w/ Fabian Holt & Lawrence Wang
Date: November 13, 2025
Host: Matt Leck (in for Emma Vigland)
Guests: Fabian Holt (author, Organize or Burn), Lawrence Wang (organizer, New York Public Power)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on two major themes: the nationwide strike of Starbucks workers and the organizing strategies for climate survival, particularly in New York. Host Matt Leck, filling in for Emma Vigland and Sam Seder, is joined by guests Fabian Holt and Lawrence Wang for an in-depth discussion of ecosocialist organizing, the unique successes of New York DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), and the recent legislative victories in climate policy. The episode also touches on unionization, electoral strategy, and broader lessons for leftist activism.

Key Segments & Timestamps

1. Starbucks Red Cup Day Strike (03:16–07:10)

Discussion Points

• Starbucks baristas across 650+ stores launch an open-ended strike on Red Cup Day, demanding their first contract after four years of union struggle.
• Workers cite over 500 labor law violations by the company.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• [04:21] Zarian Pouncey (Las Vegas barista, 13 years at Starbucks):

  "Currently, the major demand is we just want them back at the table—staffing, scheduling, better take home pay—and we're not afraid to go on strike if necessary. ... If you see us on strike...just don't go to Starbucks. Try a different coffee shop, try something local."

• Matt Leck on Worker Solidarity:

  "This is a really important fight. Really, really important for what the message it sends to broader corporate America. ... What that would do would be to signal to workers all across America ... that they can win and we need to help push them over the goal line here." [06:02]

2. Organizing for Climate Survival—New York DSA’s Ecosocialist Push (13:46–48:15)

Introduction (13:46–14:40)

• Emma Vigland (pre-recorded) welcomes Lawrence Wang and Fabian Holt to discuss New York DSA’s “monumental” organizing efforts and recent victories, including the upset mayoral election win by Zoran Mamdani.

2a. The DSA’s Approach & the Zoran Mamdani Upset Victory (14:40–18:10)

• Lawrence Wang:

  "At the very basis of our organizing is that we don't trouble ourselves with what is possible. Instead, we focus on what we make it to make it inevitable." [14:40]

  Details Mamdani’s rise from 1% in the polls to NYC mayor-elect through organizing, field work, and messaging.

• Fabian Holt:

  "DSA has built a culture, a culture of grassroots democracy. ... It's not just a simple canvassing organization...In New York, the movement culture really has become really strong." [16:40]

2b. Why New York? The Unique Conditions for Socialist Organizing (19:13–21:37)

• Lawrence Wang: Emphasizes NY’s strong left culture rooted in unions, past waves of left organizing, and highly educated but economically precarious population.

  "New York has a very strong culture of socialism... We're in the richest city in the richest country in the world. Why can't we have a better life?" [19:46]

• Emma notes the lingering influence of the Occupy movement as a “shadow” fueling DSA’s work.

  "I think that Occupy is a great example of that energy... It's actually the lessons of Occupy that actually helped develop the dsa because we saw that there was immense interest ... but there was no organization." – Lawrence Wang [21:37]

2c. Ecosocialism, Climate Crisis & Legislative Wins (23:07–30:28)

• Emma: Frames ecosocialism as central to DSA’s vision and contrasts it with growing right-wing ecofascism.

• Fabian Holt:

  "DSA adopted that organizational approach into an explicitly socialist context and into electoral politics... what we are seeing now really is a question ... Is Governor Hochul going to side with the climate obstructionists or is she going to meet the legally mandated goals of 2030?" [24:19–28:05]

  Stresses the importance of long-term organizational capacity over short-term movements.

• Discussion of key climate legislation:

  • The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA)
  • The Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA)

  "It is the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act—we always remember as the acronym CLCPA—it's all acronyms." – Lawrence Wang [30:10]

  Explains how prior to 2018, NY politics was hamstrung by Cuomo’s use of the IDC (Independent Democratic Caucus) which prevented progressive victories until progressives broke through.

2d. Connecting Climate Organizing to Material Reality (34:17–40:11)

• Emma: Explains failure of individualist climate politics; highlights public anger at rising power bills.

• Lawrence Wang:
  Emphasizes tying the climate fight to people's real, day-to-day experiences—power outages, flooding, energy costs.

  "People know this. ... Most people ... they go, 'I don't understand it.' ... Do you know somebody who has dealt with a power outage or has been dealing with the after effects still of Hurricane Sandy ... ?" [35:55]

2e. Lessons for Other Movements & Cities (40:11–48:15)

• Discussion of how NY DSA’s victories stem from:

  • Willingness to defy conventional wisdom and try new tactics
  • Close integration of elected officials and grassroots
  • Use of direct action, media, and elections in combination

• Lawrence Wang:

  "It is about trying new things, not playing by the rule book, confronting power at every opportunity, not being afraid to try new things ... The trifecta of big field campaigns, community building, and communications really transformed the campaign." [41:42–48:15]

• Traces the BPRA's journey from a "lefty loony bill" to major legislative victory, up against corporate and gubernatorial opposition.

3. Memorable Quotes & Banter

• [06:10] Matt:

  "...you're my favorite union people—fighting the union fight. I don't mean to play favorites, but you're my favorites."

• [23:03] Lawrence:

  "...if the world is falling apart, if it's burning? ... That's why ecosocialism is so important to socialism...if we have a world in the first place."

• [40:11] Fabian:

  "...we can appeal to daily economic issues and integrate climate with economic politics ... but I think it's also important to build understanding beyond that...climate literacy can be improved."

• [47:00+] Lawrence:

  "That moment of mass media activation...that did more than anything else...we were beating new bosses at every stage of the level every year."

4. Takeaway Lessons for Organizers & Listeners

• Long-term organizing culture (not just protest) is critical for building power and winning policy.
• DSA’s integration of grassroots activism with elected officials and bold, unapologetic demands proved more effective than playing it safe or catering to established party interests.
• Climate policy success came from linking it to real grievances (high energy bills, failing utilities) instead of abstract environmental concern.
• Building broad coalitions and not being afraid to confront entrenched power—even within the Democratic Party—can produce surprising, substantial victories.
• The “new left” in New York benefited from not being shackled by past failures or old hierarchies.

5. Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Currently, the major demand is we just want them back at the table—staffing, scheduling, better take home pay—and we're not afraid to go on strike if necessary.”
  — Zarian Pouncey, [04:21]

• "We don't trouble ourselves with what is possible. Instead, we focus on what we make it to make it inevitable."
  — Lawrence Wang, [14:40]

• "DSA has built a culture of grassroots democracy...it's not just a strategy or something you would sort of develop quickly over a few months..."
  — Fabian Holt, [16:40]

• “If the world is falling apart, if it's burning? ... That's why ecosocialism is so important to socialism, is that...the only way to build that world...is if we have a world in the first place.”
  — Lawrence Wang, [23:03]

• "That moment of mass media activation ... made them go, 'oh, crap, we should call you guys.'"
  — Lawrence Wang, [47:20]

6. Tone & Energy

The tone remains irreverent, warm, and enthusiastic with humor, banter, and passionate advocacy for worker and climate justice. The hosts and guests celebrate victories while candidly dissecting barriers and strategies.

Further Resources

Matt plugs upcoming Jacobin-led discussions on DSA victories [53:15] and links are promised to previous Starbucks union interviews in the show notes.

For listeners who missed the episode:
This episode is an energizing primer on how sustained, creative organizing can win transformational change—both in workplace power and climate policy—and why New York DSA has become a model for the American left.