Audio From A Collapsing State | Jared Yates Sexton

In this episode of The Check-In, I talk with my friend Danielle Moodie about the worsening capitalist state, but also the point at which the social contract is broken and we need to consider other options. The fascist / capitalist program is out of control and looking outside the country, particularly at the recent uprising in Nepal, tells us something incredibly important: if we can let go of our fear, we could fight back and have a better future.Thank you, as always, to all the people tuning in and all the kindness. Also, if you haven’t already, please check out Part II of the A Crisis of Meaning and Purpose series that gets into so much of what we’ve been talking about and how our present conditions have created the perfect environment for a fascistic takeover.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support, so please become a paid subscriber today This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comIn this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State, I dive deep into this weird moment where “resistance” to the fascist regime takes the form of mocking social media posts that “experts” and “analysts” tell us is starting to change the minds of the MAGA faithful. This lie, peddled by people like Tom Nichols, is part of a project that’s lasted over a deca…

Every week I log onto to record The Check-In with Danielle Moodie and it ends up better and going places more profound than I ever expected. In this episode, we discuss the need for Americans learn to live life, not only in opposition to authoritarianism but for basic joy and healthiness. This includes the necessity of self-care and grounding, but also shifting to a life where it comes automatically. This, of course, is the antithesis of fascism and capitalism, which makes it all the more important.From there, we dive into how American life before Donald Trump was obscene. All around us were signs that our society was sick and failing, and, yet, so many of us were incentivized not to recognize it. If there are accurate histories written, and it should be noted fascists have no interest in accurate history because it undermines their plans, we will look back on one abomination after another: slavery, our treatment of the indigenous population, Jim Crow, the growth of the carceral state, intentional scarcity, for-profit healthcare, you name it, as something that deserves the utmost scrutiny and shame.This was an incredible conversation and I feel so privileged to have had it. Thank you to everyone who tunes in and supports this project. I hope you find something here of value that helps you navigate your life.And, in case you missed it, I published a new article this morning detailing what I believe should be the baseline requirements of any person seeking office in the future and what I believe is necessary should the Democratic Party right itself and become an actual force in defense of democracy and creating a better world. I’ve appreciated the feedback so far and if you have thoughts please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support. If this work has helped you or resonated with you, please consider becoming a paid subscriber This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

Another good week of talk with my friend Danielle Moodie in which we discussed our opportunities to step outside of the day-to-day grind of living in modern America and the effect of disengaging (hint: it makes all of this seem even crazier). Over the course of the conversation we got into how this fascistic regime isn’t just abusive and destructive but how it cheapens everything from our institutions to the idea of human dignity. That led to a back-and-forth on how we must avoid internalizing the fall of America in order to maintain our own sense of worth and hope, all while continuing to disengage from the destructive incentives of capitalism that got us here.Thank you again to the people out there tuning in and doing the work. As I said in the broadcast, I think that’s going to make the difference. Resistance begins as we heal and as we consider these things, as we become more thoughtful and aware and treat others better. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We’ll be back with another episode next Wednesday at 12pm eastern. I’ll have the first article in a series of pieces breaking down our crisis of meaning and purpose within the next few days. I’ve appreciated peoples’ thoughts as I’ve started to work on this and feel very motivated and drawn to this work.Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support. If my work has resonated with you or helped you, please consider becoming a paid subscriber This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comHello, everyone. I’m back after a few days out in the wildness. I had a lot of time to think and write and consider and in this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State I’m discussing where I’m being called to do the work. After spending some time thinking about the problem of rising fascism and our cultural sense of isolation, I’m starting to put toget…

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

Was really thrilled to talk with my friend THE LEFT HOOK with Wajahat Ali about a topic both of us have a keen interest in: the power of popular culture and its effect on reality. We trace the history of mass popular culture in the United States, how it has been used by the powerful to tamp down democratic energies, the way it has warped our understanding of the world, and the cycle between reality and culture that changes and reinforces each one. The focus, throughout, is how we’ve arrived at this point where a dictatorial fraud has gained power and has surrounded himself with aggrieved and angry failed artists and tastemakers who are taking their self-hatred out on all of us and attempting to control reality, and why we think they will ultimately fail.This is a conversation I’ve been looking to have for a long, long time, so I’m very grateful for Wajahat for asking. I’m going to take a few days to escape an undisclosed location to get some remoteness and recharge the batteries. I’ll be back with The Check-In with Danielle Moodie of The DAM Digest on Wednesday at 12pm ET and will likely have some articles to share at some point. In the meantime, take care of yourself.Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support. If my work has resonated with you or meant something to you, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks to everybody who came out to watch Danielle Moodie and I tape another episode of The Check-In. This was a conversation I’ll remember for a long time. Danielle and I talk about the need to counterbalance shame with grace (for more on how fascism feeds off our shame check out my recent episode of Audio From A Collapsing State) and how each of us is being called on to heal from our past traumas, the coping mechanisms we learned along the way, and see the difference between right and wrong. This includes in our politics, our culture, and with infuriating tragedies like we’re seeing in Gaza, all of which reveal who we can trust and who doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near power. Along the way, we discuss the destructive elements of social media and how it keeps us jailed in our own doubt and shame, the excuses we make for white patriarchal supremacy, and much more.Corporate media does not support actual critiques of power. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support, so please become a paid subscriber if this work has resonated with you or helped you along the way This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comIt’s been way, way too long since I recorded an episode of Audio From A Collapsing State. I’ve been out in the world, traveling, working, and organizing. I felt called to record this today because I’m seeing a continued battle that goes unaddressed: the need for each of us to heal, but the specter of shame and self-criticism hindering that work.We’re to…

Huge thank you to THE LEFT HOOK with Wajahat Ali for having me on. Always appreciate these conversations and in this one we get into the implications of Donald Trump’s continued struggles with the Epstein scandal, the signals that Rupert Murdoch and other Right Wing powerbrokers are turning on him or maybe looking elsewhere, what it means that we’re starting to see public acts of defiance in popular culture and politics, and discuss the American fantasy-industrial complex (expect an article on Hulk Hogan’s death and this topic here shortly).Thank you, as always, for the support. If my work or analysis has helped you, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. It makes a world of difference and it keeps this project going.Corporate media does not support actual critiques of power or capitalism. Become a paid subscriber to support Dispatches From A Collapsing State This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

I was so grateful for this week’s episode of The Check-In with Danielle Moodie. Here, we get into the culture of mindless consumption and sociopathic behavior that capitalism requires and that leads to living unexamined lives that trend toward destruction and hurt. This is something that has happened to all of us and affects us in ways we are often not aware. We are supposed to sleepwalk through life, relying on products and distractions to steal our attention away from our deep wounds and pain and, ultimately, keep us from considering who we are and what we want. MAGA is both a political project and a rolling distraction machine that tells us not to question, not to search, not to grow or evolve or become healthier. With that in mind, choosing to lead a fuller, happier, more present life is a fundamental act of resistance and revolutionary in nature. It is isn’t easy. It can be very hard and even painful, but we have no choice but to recognize this pattern of self-destruction and change it before it consumes us all.Thank you, as always, for supporting The Check-In. Your messages are incredible and keep me going in hard times. If you haven’t already, please become a paying subscriber. It keeps this project rolling forward and supports my work.Corporate media does not support actual critiques of power or capitalism. Dispatches From a Collapsing State continues because of your support. Please become a paying subscriber to support this work and to gain access to exclusive material and content This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

Danielle Moodie and I weren’t planning on doing an episode of The Check-In this week because I’m traveling and working, but I think the prospect of it made both of us sad. So, this was an impromptu episode and discussion about what I’m seeing out and about, namely a culture of addiction that is fueling the fascist movement. Seeing scores of “Trump Stores” and people moving from one cheap and empty thrill to another, I was disturbed. Here, we talk about the United States of America as an addicted nation consuming and indulging in order to keep one step ahead of feelings of loneliness, desperation, and pain. One of the things I mention here is that America’s main export now, outside of weapons, are the drugs of distraction, ranging from products to substance to entertainment and, now, authoritarianism.Thanks as always for the kindness and the support. If you haven’t already, please become a paid subscriber. Your financial support is what keeps this project rolling.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of power or capitalism. Become a paid subscriber to support Dispatches From A Collapsing State This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

It was, as always a joy getting to hang out and talk with my friend Danielle Moodie. On this episode of The Check-In, we discussed the paradoxical state of living under a fascist regime that is attempting to dominate our minds, our spirit, and our time. It requires finding and holding onto joy while also understanding the threats we face, all while not allowing the fascists to steal our joy and ourselves. If we’re not careful, they will twist us into a mirror of them: joyless and angry and inescapably miserable. This is advanced-level stuff that many of us haven’t had to learn how to do, but now it’s required of us.Thank you for everyone for tuning in and for the kind words. This project is one of my favorite things going right now and I always leave our Wednesday chats feeling better and more focused. I hope it’s helped you feel the same way. We’re taking next week off but will be back July 23rd with the next episode.Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support. Become a paid subscriber today to support this project as corporate media does not support or reward actual critiques of power or capitalism This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s episode of The Check-In, Danielle Moodie and I talked about the unnerving experience of watching concentration camps being built around the country and world and wrestle with the assault on our morals, ethics, and, ultimately, our spirits. We discussed the need to hold within us a clear vision of right and wrong that will fortify us even when things get harder and harder. This isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. Fascism makes us feel like we will break and can leave us worried that we are alone and powerless, but we have to find truth and solace within ourselves that will help us weather the storm.Danielle and I stream every Wednesday at 12pm Eastern. Subscribe to get updates and watch The Check-In live.Corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Become a paid subscriber to support Dispatches From A Collapsing State This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comLike a lot of you, I have been disgusted by the Democratic Party’s response to Zohran Mamdani’s miraculous victory in the New York City Mayoral Primary. Members of his own party have engaged in relentless fearmongering and race-baiting in an attempt to undermine his campaign. This effort, which has been helped by corporate media, has done everything pos…

It was another great week of checking in with my friend Danielle Moodie. In this episode we discuss the upset victory by Zohran Mamdani, including the repulsive attempt by the status quo to smear him and maintain power. That conversation revolves around the complicit factions within the Democratic Party that are beholden to the wealth class, the fact that their smears and fear tactics are falling short, and the work each of us needs to do in order to realize the better future we all deserve.Corporate media does not support actual critiques of power or capitalism. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support, so become a paid subscriber today This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Check-In, my friend Danielle Moodie and I discussed the ramp up to an illegal and unnecessary war with Iran, as well as the worsening authoritarian conditions we all face, and got into the need for mass action and a general strike. This is difficult, obviously, for a variety of reasons, but also because we do not have the apparatus yet. We need to get busy organizing. And in a hurry.Corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support. Become a paid subscriber today This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This weekend there will be protests in over 1,800 locations around the country. Many of us are planning on attending and I think that’s beautiful and inspiring. But a lot of people have never done this before and we are facing an authoritarian takeover the likes of which we’ve never seen. So, I wanted to get some thoughts out there for people looking to be prepared.In this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State, I give a primer on protesting. It starts before you even arrive, the choices you make in terms of how you dress, what you bring, whether you should go at all, and in mentally and emotionally preparing. At the protest, we talk about how to get a sense of the crowd makeup, the different sections of activity, choosing where to stand and march, and general strategies for keeping yourself and the people you love safe. There’s an overview of general self-maintenance - drink water, lots of water, and use water for cleansing - and the rights you need to know as you could potentially interact with law enforcement.Please listen and share with anyone planning on protesting this weekend or in protests in the future. We aren’t taught these things and you can only learn them over time and with experience. I’ve been in my fair share of protests and riots and this is all what I wish I would’ve known prior. Please, if you decide to go this weekend, be safe. Be aware. And do not, under any circumstances, forget that you are fighting for our future. The future we deserve.This episode of Audio From A Collapsing State is free for everyone because I think it’s important heading into these protests. I do depend on your support, however, so if this information or any of the other articles is useful for you, please become a paid subscriber. This is an independent project and it depends on that support.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support, so become a paid subscriber today This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for my friend Danielle Moodie. In this week’s episode of The Check-In, we discuss the building anxiety and dread as the situation in Los Angeles and in cities around the country builds. Anxiety is a hell of an adaptation meant to prepare us for threats. And, right now, we are in incredible danger.The conversation gets into that, as well as the need to nurture ourselves and gain strength from our connections and our principles. As we head into the weekend and mass protests, we must prepare for whatever comes, including paradigm-changing violence and oppression. And, as I get into in this discussion, how we view the parameters of what protest and resistance actually are. None of it is comfortable, but this situation is so far from comfortable and it is necessary for us to meet this situation where it is and leave behind our denial. Because, otherwise, this is going to be a disaster.Thank you for the support and the kindness. It has meant everything.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support, so please become a paid subscriber This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comThe messy fight between Elon Musk and Donald Trump is eating up all the headlines. It’s an absolutely horrid thing considering these two men control so much power and have so much influence and their unhinged implosion only drives home the fact that they shouldn’t be anywhere near the controls of government.In this episode of Audio From A Collapsing Sta…

Man alive, I love doing these livestreams with Danielle Moodie. In this episode of The Check-In, Danielle and I talk about listening to the Self and recognizing what things bring us joy and what things deserve our time, our attention, and our labor. The vast majority of Americans spend their time running from themselves and avoiding any kind of discomfort, thereby putting off the necessary self-reflection that can defeat authoritarianism and lead to a better world.The conversation from there trends toward how one of the most pressing threats is the unwillingness to wrestle with our mythologies and stories, to recognize what is real and what is fake, and how authoritarianism, as a destructive cult, enables people to continue living in all of America’s fairytales and stave off that necessary discomfort in order to discover who they really are. And then, a discussion of how so many of our systems and features, including our careers and even career-centric therapy, are about reassuring us that we don’t actually need to change but become more willing and compliant cogs within the capitalistic machine, which leads to people who are “anti-fascist,” including white liberals and moderates, sometimes quickly turning the other way and unintentionally capitulating with fascism.Thank you for everyone who keeps tuning in and for the kindness. I hope your conversations are going so well out there in the world. Keep up the fight.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support. Please become a paid subscriber today This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comAuthoritarian takeovers are strange. There are moments of absolute chaos and violence, then periods where it’s oddly quiet. Right now, we’ve entered into a bizarre chapter where people are tired, exhausted, and behaving in ways we might not have expected. This is an ongoing fight and we need to take stock of how it shifts and changes.Over the past week …

Another week, another conversation with my friend Danielle Moodie. Just to start: I’m sick. Like, beat-up sick. We talked about that. About how even though an authoritarian takeover is happening, we are still living and going through all of our stuff. That takes a toll and adds to the overwhelming nature of things because living, even under the best circumstances, is hard work, and these are most certainly not the best circumstances.I hope this finds you well and possibly helps in your life and in your organizing and resistance. These conversations have meant everything to me and the support and kindness around them has been so replenishing and inspiring. I’ll have an article out tomorrow and an audio, god willing, this weekend. Thank you. Again. And keep hanging in there.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support, so become a paid subscriber today This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comOn this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State, I delve into the hard work of trying to stay grounded while American descends into chaos. Every day is another deluge of lies, abuses, and manipulation, which can leave us feeling exhausted and lost. This is a key weapon in the authoritarian arsenal and is designed to wear us down. If we’re going to sur…

I’m on the road but that didn’t stop me from getting on with my friend Danielle Moodie for our weekly Check-In. Today we talked the difference between living and the unnatural and unhealthy state that capitalism requires, which brought us to the problems with MAGA and even some people (and parties) that loudly proclaim themselves an anti-MAGA. Oh, and how men and their bullshit always form the base of authoritarianism. After my phone overheated, I jumped back on and we briefly discussed how the disturbing truth is that much of our politics is dominated by people who want children to suffer the same abuse they endured, which keeps our country from progressing. Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of power or capitalism become a paid subscriber to support Dispatches From A Collapsing State This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comIn this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State, I discuss the massive tornado that ripped through my hometown on Friday and the disturbing storm that slashed through the Midwest. In talking about it online, I was peppered with people who dismissed the concern, saying people in so-called “Red States” deserved whatever they had coming to them.I understa…

In this episode of The Check-In, Danielle Moodie and I discuss the kind of self-work and self-introspection that this moment requires of us. There’s a need to find the things that nurture and replenish us as we withstand the onslaught of authoritarianism, but we also have to learn to sit in discomfort so that we can decide what we want our lives and the world to be. MAGA’s rise to power has been predicated on the very distinctively American promise that a person never has to be uncomfortable or consider themselves and their lives and privilege.Again, thank you so much for your support for this project. It has become one of my favorite things and all of the kindness viewers and listeners have shown is just…so welcome. Please, keep sharing how your conversations out in the world are going. We all need to be doing this work and, through it, we will not only live better lives, but ultimately defeat this abominable authoritarian threat.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support, so become a paid subscriber today This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s edition of The Check-In, Danielle Moodie and I talk about how this authoritarian push wears on you as a person and can leave you tired, demoralized, and, quite frankly, feeling crazy. We discuss looking around at an increasingly brutal and violent world and staying firm in saying it’s not okay and we deserve better. And that something better has to move beyond compromising with oppression and exploitation, and rejecting the idea that we must choose between abusers with power and the people and institutions that enable them.I think I speak for Danielle when I say that these conversations mean the world to me, but also that your support, kindness, and willingness to do the work in your own lives is inspiring and nourishing. Thank you for continuing to fight. Thank you for continuing to show up.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support, so please become a paid subscriber This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comIn this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State, we dive into the cult mechanics of MAGA and other authoritarian movements to see how the crises of Democracy, Meaning, and Purpose fuel these movements and twist our realities.Donald Trump’s continued comments on his disastrous economic actions reveal something we must understand: the Right uses cult tec…

In this week’s episode of The Check-In, Danielle Moodie and I get into the experience of meeting with people who have affected so far by the Trump Administration’s cruelty and corruption, discuss the media and political classes’ failures to identify the threat and do their jobs, the costs of privilege, and then a deep dive into how a fostering of intimacy and solidarity is the solution to not just defeating the authoritarian threat, but in creating a better future.I cannot thank enough the people who have been reaching out in kindness regarding this new project and the discussions Danielle and I are having. It literally means the world. I hope these chats are helpful in putting these things into perspective but also in cultivating resistance in your own lives. Always love hearing about that work. We’ll be back next Wednesday at 12pm eastern. I hope you’ll join us.Corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Become a paid subscriber to support Dispatches From A Collapsing State This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comTwo year olds are being disappeared. Children are defending themselves in immigration courtrooms. It’s a repellent state of affairs, but I would be lying if I said this was new or an aberration. America’s present crisis was built on the exploitation and abuse of children, here and around the world.In this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State, I disc…

This is the second episode of my new series with The DAM Digest writer Danielle Moodie that we’re calling The Check-In. This is two friends getting together on their lunch hour on Wednesdays at 12pm ET and discussing the emotional toll of living under an authoritarian regime. If you haven’t already, check out the first episode.In this episode, Danielle and I discuss how a culture of delusion and denial in the United States of America not only fuels the MAGA Movement and authoritarianism writ large, but also how it affects all of us and makes that totalitarian regime more powerful. There is need for us to confront the aspects of our culture and ourselves, our history and our present, in order to begin the hard work of healing and building a better future.Honestly, I am so happy with how this series is going, the conversations Danielle and I are having, and also the response we’re getting from viewers and listeners. Thank you. Here’s to continuing the discussions.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of power or capitalism. Support Dispatches From A Collapsing State by becoming a paid subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comThis past week lasted a month. I cannot believe how long and trying it was. When Danielle Moodie and I recorded The Check-In on Wednesday, we discussed the emotional toll of it all, how it felt like grieving mixed with anger, and then, within a couple of days, that grief morphed to just outright rage. The administration’s continued cruelty regarding the…

So, my friend Danielle Moodie and I have a launched a new weekly show (Wednesdays at 12pm eastern) we’re calling the Check-In. We’ll go live and discuss the experience of living through rising authoritarianism, get into the emotional and psychological toll, where we are, and what we can learn from the moment to get past this crisis and make something better.In this first episode, we touch base and, guess what, we’re not feeling great. The impact of watching the President of the United States laugh it up with an autocratic buddy in the White House, fantasize about sending American citizens to a nightmare prison, and collaborating to keep an illegally deported man prisoner, just happens to take a toll. This leads Danielle and I to discuss how we, as a culture, are experiencing stages of grief, which can either keep us stuck in this mess or allow us to move forward.We also touch on the damage of delusional dynamics, including denying the history of white supremacy, state-level violence, and capitalist exploitation that has spanned the entirety of this country’s life and remains there to this day. Viewing the nation as a large, extended family, and how these abuses mirror what many of us have experienced in our lives, and how that plays out politically and culturally, also gets a moment of consideration.I left this first episode feeling, as I always do when Danielle and I have these discussions, heard and seen and hopeful that we’ll continue to drill down deeper into what’s going on and, as a result, win the future we deserve. It’s going to take work. Lots of work. But we can do it.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support, please become a paid subscriber This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

One of my favorite writers for awhile now has been David Roth, who is an editor, writer, and employee-owner of one of the last essential websites, Defector.com. In addition to covering sports and culture, Roth has become an unparalleled observer and commenter on politics, including one banger of a column after another that leads readers into the minds and continually warped and warpening world being shaped by feckless and cruel billionaires.I asked David to join me and we had a wide-ranging conversation about the second Trump Administration, what it means to have unserious and dangerous people like Pete Hegseth in control of major functions of government, how his experiences in the world of journalism informed his understanding of our capitalist environment and the continued assault on everything, and where we see signs and opportunities for something better building in the future.I certainly enjoyed this conversation, and I think you will, too.Below is a growing list of resources regarding what’s happening politically and opportunities for organizing and forming an actual resistance. As always, if this work and this project resonate with you, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to Dispatches From A Collapsing State.Resources* What the Hell is Going On: Here is an explainer regarding our present circumstances for anyone who has had a feeling that the traditional Democrat / Republican / Red / Blue narrative was hiding something. Here, we go through the problems in the United States and how the wealth class has effectively put itself in a position to totally takeover our government.* The Oligarchical Order: A primer on how to give up conventional and failed political understandings in favor of seeing how capitalism directs the course of events and where it is leading and what to expect.* Authoritarianism and the Crisis of Meaning: Here we get into how consumerism represents an addictive drug that has hollowed out our sense of purpose, leaving us to take this as a moment of self-reflection, recognize that we have effectively been made to hate and doubt ourselves, thereby keeping us from realizing we deserve better.* A Thoroughly Confused Country: Americans have little in the way of class consciousness, which was an intentional state desired by the wealth class. This primer gets into the class makeup of the United States, including contradictions and motivations, that will be crucial in understanding as we do our work.* Authoritarianism as Clarity: As authoritarians take power, the world becomes a lot clearer. We can see who we can trust and who we shouldn’t. This episode gets into the history of Vichy France and the lessons we can learn on how to operate as individuals within an authoritarian environment.* Fostering Hope in Hard Times: Some thoughts on how to maintain hope as authoritarianism sweeps in.* Understanding the Enemy: A guide through the evolution of capitalism from free markets to its current evolving form - oligarchical authoritarianism, as well as insights into how our politics has made this change happen and moments in which the evolution has been curbed.* Get Ready: Preparing for the incoming ICE / federal immigration raids with resources for immigrants and allies.* They're Trying to Crush You: I discuss the emotional toll of the beginning onslaught of the Trump Administration and how it is a strategy for demoralizing us before we can begin resisting.* A Coup in Plain Sight: An explainer detailing what is happening with Musk, DOGE, and the takeover of the government.* The Birth of a Monster: A history of how the oligarchical class came to be and what their ideology reveals about what a future under their control would entail. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comPolitics is a funny thing. Sometimes developments occur that have consequences that are difficult to predict or maybe understand, at least with certain mindsets. When I wrote The Midnight Kingdom: A History of Power, Paranoia, and the Coming Crisis, it became obvious that we were reaching a point in history where Neoliberal Globalism would come to a cro…

Thank you Sarah Kendzior for joining me for my first Live conversation and for the thousands who came out to watch. You’ll find here a recording of our discussion. We talk about Sarah’s new book The Last American Road Trip, the experience of living in this crisis, thoughts on the roiling disaster, and, perhaps most importantly, what it is that we must fight to protect and preserve.I’ll be doing more of these conversations in the future and I thank you for the support and kindness. Get Sarah’s book and get ready for that fight. Judging by what we’ve seen over the past couple months and even the past couple of hours, we’ve got our work cut out for us. But, as always, we have everything to gain.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Become a paid subscriber to support Dispatches From A Collapsing State. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comEvery day brings something new to gnaw on and gnash our teeth over. We’re under a constant assault on our rights but also our emotional core. As I’ve said, authoritarianism means to destroy our ability to imagine something better, to isolate us, make us feel alone and powerless to stop it. But we are not alone and we are not powerless. And, when all is …

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comThis is the second part of a two-part mailbag episode (find part one here). I start this with some thoughts on hope during these hard times. I have struggled and I’m sure you have to maintain a sense in the face of all this brutality and these roadblocks, but we need reminded that living is resistance. If we are going to fight back and eventually win, a…

I was privileged to sit down today with my friend Danielle Moodie, the author of The DAM Digest newsletter, host of The Danielle Moodie Show, co-host of The Daily Beast’s The New Abnormal and Democracyish. Danielle is one of the few analysts and pundits I have trusted over the years and this episode should give you some idea as to why that is. We talk about the rapid escalation in the authoritarian war against democracy, including the galling raids against Venezuelans who, against court orders, were shipped to El Salvador, the disappearing of Mahmoud Khalil, and the nauseating lack of response by the Democratic Party. On the subject of the Democrats, we dived into why the party has failed to standup to the authoritarians and oligarchs, laying bare the purpose of this current group of politicians: to keep the capitalist exploitation going.These are heavy subjects, but Danielle and I get into a lot of hope and what it will take to set things right. It’s about having faith in a better future, a more humane future, in which we reinvigorate our connections and address the spiritual crisis that authoritarianism and fascism feed upon. Going through my own days in the wilderness, this was a much-needed conversation.As always, you’ll find below a list of resources I’ve been compiling in terms of educating yourself on why this is happening and how to organize, as we discussed in the conversation. If you haven’t already, please become a subscriber to keep this project going.Corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power. Become a paid subscriber to support Dispatches From A Collapsing StateResources* What the Hell is Going On: Here is an explainer regarding our present circumstances for anyone who has had a feeling that the traditional Democrat / Republican / Red / Blue narrative was hiding something. Here, we go through the problems in the United States and how the wealth class has effectively put itself in a position to totally takeover our government.* The Oligarchical Order: A primer on how to give up conventional and failed political understandings in favor of seeing how capitalism directs the course of events and where it is leading and what to expect.* Authoritarianism and the Crisis of Meaning: Here we get into how consumerism represents an addictive drug that has hollowed out our sense of purpose, leaving us to take this as a moment of self-reflection, recognize that we have effectively been made to hate and doubt ourselves, thereby keeping us from realizing we deserve better.* A Thoroughly Confused Country: Americans have little in the way of class consciousness, which was an intentional state desired by the wealth class. This primer gets into the class makeup of the United States, including contradictions and motivations, that will be crucial in understanding as we do our work.* Authoritarianism as Clarity: As authoritarians take power, the world becomes a lot clearer. We can see who we can trust and who we shouldn’t. This episode gets into the history of Vichy France and the lessons we can learn on how to operate as individuals within an authoritarian environment.* Fostering Hope in Hard Times: Some thoughts on how to maintain hope as authoritarianism sweeps in.* Understanding the Enemy: A guide through the evolution of capitalism from free markets to its current evolving form - oligarchical authoritarianism, as well as insights into how our politics has made this change happen and moments in which the evolution has been curbed.* Get Ready: Preparing for the incoming ICE / federal immigration raids with resources for immigrants and allies.* They're Trying to Crush You: I discuss the emotional toll of the beginning onslaught of the Trump Administration and how it is a strategy for demoralizing us before we can begin resisting.* A Coup in Plain Sight: An explainer detailing what is happening with Musk, DOGE, and the takeover of the government.* The Birth of a Monster: A history of how the oligarchical class came to be and what their ideology reveals about what a future under their control would entail. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comHappy Saturday, everyone. Hopefully you’re having a decent one, finding opportunities for rest and joy and maybe even adventure. I recorded this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State feeling angered by the Democrats in the Senate and the ongoing capitulation. It’s incredibly difficult to fight against an authoritarian takeover and oligarchical coup w…

I had the honor of sitting down with Parker Molloy, the writer behind The Present Age newsletter, in a wide-ranging discussion that touched on how our media has tragically mainstreamed Right Wing hate and changed our political paradigm. We also got into the awful abandonment of Trans Americans in the wake of the 2024 Election, as well as signs that a backlash is building as people move beyond corporate news and see for themselves just what’s happening in this country.Parker is an essential journalist in this moment and has provided invaluable insight and analysis for years. I hope you’ll check out The Present Age if you haven’t already. Below you’ll find a list of resources detailing, for educational and organizing purposes, how we’ve arrived at this point and we need to fight our way out. I’ll be recording a subscriber-exclusive mailbag episode of Audio From A Collapsing State this weekend. Please reply with any questions or topics or feel free to email me if you’d like to remain anonymous.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of capitalism or power, so Dispatches From A Collapsing State depends on your support. Become a paid subscriber todayResources* What the Hell is Going On: Here is an explainer regarding our present circumstances for anyone who has had a feeling that the traditional Democrat / Republican / Red / Blue narrative was hiding something. Here, we go through the problems in the United States and how the wealth class has effectively put itself in a position to totally takeover our government.* The Oligarchical Order: A primer on how to give up conventional and failed political understandings in favor of seeing how capitalism directs the course of events and where it is leading and what to expect.* Authoritarianism and the Crisis of Meaning: Here we get into how consumerism represents an addictive drug that has hollowed out our sense of purpose, leaving us to take this as a moment of self-reflection, recognize that we have effectively been made to hate and doubt ourselves, thereby keeping us from realizing we deserve better.* A Thoroughly Confused Country: Americans have little in the way of class consciousness, which was an intentional state desired by the wealth class. This primer gets into the class makeup of the United States, including contradictions and motivations, that will be crucial in understanding as we do our work.* Authoritarianism as Clarity: As authoritarians take power, the world becomes a lot clearer. We can see who we can trust and who we shouldn’t. This episode gets into the history of Vichy France and the lessons we can learn on how to operate as individuals within an authoritarian environment.* Fostering Hope in Hard Times: Some thoughts on how to maintain hope as authoritarianism sweeps in.* Understanding the Enemy: A guide through the evolution of capitalism from free markets to its current evolving form - oligarchical authoritarianism, as well as insights into how our politics has made this change happen and moments in which the evolution has been curbed.* Get Ready: Preparing for the incoming ICE / federal immigration raids with resources for immigrants and allies.* They're Trying to Crush You: I discuss the emotional toll of the beginning onslaught of the Trump Administration and how it is a strategy for demoralizing us before we can begin resisting.* A Coup in Plain Sight: An explainer detailing what is happening with Musk, DOGE, and the takeover of the government.* The Birth of a Monster: A history of how the oligarchical class came to be and what their ideology reveals about what a future under their control would entail. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comIn this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State, I answer some reader and listener questions, beginning with an example of someone stepping up in their workplace and organizing with colleagues to pressure higher-ups into rejecting pressure from the Trump Administration. From there, we get into the ultimate goals of the oligarchs (spoiler: it’s consolid…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comAs we continue to suffer to suffer the brunt of the oligarchical coup and ready ourselves for the oncoming political, cultural, and economic consequences, we are also seeing signs of the backlash. The nature of authoritarian power grabs always inspires popular uprisings and movements. We’re seeing it with protests, with rising anger and rejection of the…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comThe ongoing oligarchical coup is incredibly disturbing but can also feel so far away. I’ve heard from many people who are in close proximity, whether in their jobs in the government or in groups and organizations that rely on federal funding, but for many people the consequences have yet to hit close to home. Unfortunately, the administrative state, as …

I’m not feeling great, but there’s been a rash of actions with the Trump Administration so I wanted to get this message out as quickly as possible.As we keep discussing, this is an all-out power grab by the oligarchy. We’re watching Elon Musk and his fellow tech fascists use Donald Trump as a battering ram as they demolish the federal government and carry out their agenda. They’re moving fast.In this episode we talk about the need to be proactive in getting a resistance in place. We will have to organize and build coalitions, but as this assault picks up speed we need to reach out to local leaders, including politicians, school administrators, and managers in our workplaces and make it clear that we expect them to stand up to the actions when they reach us. All of this is going to leak into every part of our lives and if we are not proactive we could see them capitulate and collaborate. The time to get the conversation going and the expectations communicated is now.Additionally, I lay out some of the strategies I’ve been trying to get ready for when this all gets to be too much. And, as you know, it’s already too much.I’m going to rest, but I want again to tell everyone that I appreciate the support and faith and kindness you’ve shown. This is a free episode of Audio From A Collapsing State, but please become a paid subscriber to support this effort and keep it growing as the time necessitate. If you haven’t already, please share with your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and neighbors.Unfortunately corporate media does not support actual critiques of power or capitalism. Become a subscriber to support this workResources* Beginning to Resist: Thoughts on how we, as individuals, should spend the months leading up to the second Trump presidency and preparing for the cruel austerity his wealth class donors are going to unleash.* What the Hell is Going On: Here is an explainer regarding our present circumstances for anyone who has had a feeling that the traditional Democrat / Republican / Red / Blue narrative was hiding something. Here, we go through the problems in the United States and how the wealth class has effectively put itself in a position to totally takeover our government.* The Oligarchical Order: A primer on how to give up conventional and failed political understandings in favor of seeing how capitalism directs the course of events and where it is leading and what to expect.* Authoritarianism and the Crisis of Meaning: Here we get into how consumerism represents an addictive drug that has hollowed out our sense of purpose, leaving us to take this as a moment of self-reflection, recognize that we have effectively been made to hate and doubt ourselves, thereby keeping us from realizing we deserve better.* A Thoroughly Confused Country: Americans have little in the way of class consciousness, which was an intentional state desired by the wealth class. This primer gets into the class makeup of the United States, including contradictions and motivations, that will be crucial in understanding as we do our work.* Authoritarianism as Clarity: As authoritarians take power, the world becomes a lot clearer. We can see who we can trust and who we shouldn’t. This episode gets into the history of Vichy France and the lessons we can learn on how to operate as individuals within an authoritarian environment.* Fostering Hope in Hard Times: Some thoughts on how to maintain hope as authoritarianism sweeps in.* Preparing For the Storm: A few thoughts on what you should be doing here in the beginning of the year to prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, and in terms of security.* Understanding the Enemy: A guide through the evolution of capitalism from free markets to its current evolving form - oligarchical authoritarianism, as well as insights into how our politics has made this change happen and moments in which the evolution has been curbed.* Get Ready: Preparing for the incoming ICE / federal immigrations raids with resources for immigrants and allies.* They're Trying to Crush You: I discuss the emotional toll of the beginning onslaught of the Trump Administration and how it is a strategy for demoralizing us before we can begin resisting. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comThis has been a hell of a week. Grueling. In this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State we discuss what it was like to shift into the authoritarian reality and endure a relentless assault on our senses, our emotions, and our democracy. It isn’t an easy thing to do. When discussing how to organize we spend a lot of time working on communication and ho…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comThe Equal Rights Amendment is absolutely necessary and the people who have fought for its passage over the past century are heroes who deserve our admiration and solidarity. So, hearing that President Joe Biden announced on Friday that he believed that fight was over while not having it published or even taken seriously by anyone was…disheartening.No. T…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jaredyatessexton.substack.comAuthoritarianism is systematic abuse. What you’re experiencing now, as we approach the second Trump Administration, is a flood of abusive rhetoric. In this episode of Audio From A Collapsing State, we address strategies for counteracting this madness and finding, within ourselves, a sense of Self that will keep us fighting in the face of overwhelming at…