Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella

<html><p>My guest is Dustin “Dino” Guastella, the Director of Operations at Teamsters Local 623 in Philadelphia, a monthly columnist at Damage Magazine, and a board member at the Center for Working-Class Politics.</p><p>We discuss woke ideology, the elite capture of the Democratic party, working class voters moving to the right, failures in left-wing messaging and the legacy of civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>We discuss Gianmarco’s slow start and early failures in creative life. What is the value of higher education in the US? We explore the craft and art of performance while learning about his early political influences.</p></html>

<html><p>My guest is Gianmarco Soresi, a comedian and host of the Downside Podcast. We discuss comedy’s right-wing pivot and the long arc of entertainment merging with real world politics.</p><p>In 2026, every big talk show is hosted by a comedian and this format dominates our political discourse. How did this initially progressive project shift course? Later, we discuss online cancel culture, free speech, the attention economy and how these topics are now transforming.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>We explore the current crisis and recent history of the Democratic party. Emma describes her background and early entry into the world of politics. Doomscroll is confirmed “best produced show” but gets a -3 penalty on all Charisma rolls by the host.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>My guest is Emma Vigeland, a co-host of The Majority Report. We discuss Jefferey Epstein’s sick obsession with “jerky”, nationalist affordability and the shifting media landscape. Later, we explore some of the most difficult topics on the left; popular backlash to activist rhetoric and more. What should the left bring to the table for midterms and 2028?</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>We dive deeper into pseudo-archaeology’s racist classifications and implicit myth structures. Later on, we explore the concept of sortition, Greek democracy and the early Aztec parliamentary system.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>My guest is David Wengrow, an archeologist and professor at University College London. He joins me to discuss his best-selling book "The Dawn of Everything", co-authored with the late David Graeber, published in 2021. </p><p>David Wengrow takes us on a powerful journey into the deep history of human societies. "The Dawn of Everything" offers a staggering historical survey and philosophical argument that reframes many of today’s assumptions about the origins of inequality.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>We discuss online media strategies and the political movements taking place in Latin America. The region is shaped by neoliberal trade agreements, a resurgent Pink Tide and an uncanny mix of pro-US right-wing nationalism.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>My guest is David Adler, a general coordinator of the Progressive International. Adler was aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which sought to bring life-saving humanitarian aid to the shores of Gaza. Forty-two nautical miles from the coast, the flotilla was intercepted by Israeli naval forces. Flotilla crew members were kidnapped, imprisoned, subjected to physical abuse and psychological torture. David joins us to tell the story of this mission and the broader international solidarity movement for a free Palestine.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>We explore World of Warcraft’s influence on crypto libertarianism, the Habermasian digital public sphere, and US private ownership of social media. Where does democratic legitimacy come from?</p></html>

<html><p>My guest is Ro Khanna, a congressional representative from California’s 17th district. We discuss Khanna's political and philosophical vision for American democracy, the crisis of runaway inequality and tech’s fair share in the social contract.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>David Adler, co-general director of the Progressive International, joins me to unpack the complex history of corporate colonialism in Latin America.</p><p>The United States has a long history of intervention into the affairs of Latin American countries. After the recent abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, Trump openly invoked the Monroe Doctrine, or as he calls it “the Donroe Doctrine”, to signal further hostility to other nations in the region.</p><p>In this episode we focus on the strange case of <strong>Prospera</strong> — a libertarian city-state that promises to create a free market utopia. Beginning in 2017, Prospera Inc purchased land within the sovereign territory of Honduras. At the time, Honduras was under the narco-dictatorship of Juan Orlando Hernandez. (In a stroke of poetic injustice, JOH was convicted of drug trafficking in 2024 and pardoned by Donald Trump in 2025.) </p><p>After the dictatorship, the Honduran congress overturned this unconstitutional decision with a unanimous vote across all parties. In retaliation, Prospera Inc is now suing the state of Honduras for a staggering 10.8 billion dollars, nearly 100x their investment and roughly 2/3rds of the annual state budget. Unsurprisingly, Prospera Inc is funded by Pronomos Capital whose investors include familiar characters such as Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen and Balaji Srinivasan.</p></html>

<html><p>Liz and I discuss the early accelerationist blogosphere that overlapped with certain music scenes of the 2000s - 2010s. We touch on the work of Simon Reynolds, Mark Fisher, Nick Srnicek and an uncertain meth addicted psychopath who spends too much time on Twitter.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>My guest is Liz Franzcak, a co-host of TrueAnon. We discuss conspiracy theory, Lacan’s psychoanalytic insights and the influence of the early blogosphere. Is techno-capitalism a rogue AI retroactively assembling itself from the future? No, this will not be explained later.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>Vivek and I get in the weeds about strategy and economy. We discuss how the Marxist theory of declining rates of profit will impact the 21st century struggle for social democracy. Our conversation touches upon voucher systems, nationalization and state-led investment programs. Most importantly, we compare the right and left populist visions to tackle American inequality and explore why only one of them can work. </p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>My returning guest is Vivek Chibber, a professor of sociology at New York University. He is the author of several books including Confronting Capitalism. What do we mean by the word “socialism” in 2025? Vivek Chibber answers foundational questions for political struggle in the 21st century.</p><p>Unlock the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>We discuss the legacy of the Gravel Institute, the “Felix Biederman to Marc Andreessen pipeline” and the “Bernie to New Right” culture of Dimes Square (RIP). Later, we explore Felix’s background in internet culture and online politics. I laugh so hard I spit.</p></html>

<html><p>My guest is Felix Biederman, a co-host of Chapo Trap House. We discuss Zohran Mamdani’s historic victory in NYC. After the 2024 presidential election, progressive media focused on the rightward swing of young men. However, in 2025, Zohran carried young men (ages 18 - 29) with an overwhelming +40 margin. These historic outcomes shatter many previous interpretations and force us to reframe certain narratives. Can the center of the US political establishment hold?</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>Grimes and I map the possible future horizons for a politics beyond western-style liberal democracy and explore the deep philosophical impacts of AI. We discuss post-enlightenment thinking, the crisis of digital art, artist compensation and the aesthetic stagnation of creative work today.</p></html>

<html><p>My guest is Grimes, an artist and musician. We discuss the profound impacts of social media and AI, her new album and the role of art during periods of political transformation. </p><p>In the 20th century, artists served as an avant-garde. Movements on both the left and right, such as the Bauhaus or Italian Futurism, offered radical new visions for a modernizing society. In the 21st century, we see a similar dynamic emerge through online folk art such as memes and other digital content. Later, we explore the complex references and symbolism throughout the Artificial Angels music video and official album artwork.</p><p>You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella</a></p></html>

<html><p>Dr. Mike joins me to explore the “enhanced games”, a Peter Thiel backed Olympic-style competition that allows athletes to use performance enhancing drugs. We discuss tariffs, US competition with China and Dr. Mike’s philosophical background and influences.</p></html>