It’s a classic “we read a conservative book and get mad” episode!This time we take on pseduo-biographer and self-proclaimed public intellectual Eric Metaxes and his 2022 book, “Letter to the American Church.” Eric says he sees scary parallels to nazi Germany in today’s USA…and he thinks Donald Trump is going to stop it.Joining us is 7-time returning guest and evangelical-freak-understander Josh Boerman. Together we will crash out about Eric and, somewhere in the rage, try to figure out the core of his ideology and how to fight it.Check out Josh’s phenomenal podcasts, The Worst of All Possible Worlds and Ill Concieved, at his website!https://joshboerman.com/Go support Workers’ Lit on Patreon!https://patreon.com/workerslitLinks from the episode:https://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2010-09/hijacking-bonhoefferhttps://currentpub.com/2024/10/20/bonhoeffer-family-to-eric-metaxas-we-are-horrified-to-see-how-the-legacy-of-dietrich-bonhoeffer-is-being-distorted-and-misused/https://manhattandeclaration.org/

This is a preview. To access the full episode please go support Workers' Lit on Patreon.https://www.patreon.com/WorkersLit/posts/article-brain-167304042It's August Article Brain! And we've got more brain worms than ever.This month, Lenore brings us an article about a trans woman who is bemoaning that the CIA is becoming less accepting of trans people (no mention of becoming more accepting of election results in the Global South). Jacob brings us an article by a never-Trump Republican claiming that actually, Democrats shouldn't run on popular things.

This book is weird, and horny, and gnarly, and gross, and exciting, and an all around winner.Welcome to our discussion of “The Works of Vermin,” Hiron Ennes’ 2025 speculative fantasty slam dunk of a novel. Seriously, go buy this one. Go read it. The episode will still be here when you’re done.And we’re not alone! Maria Ingrade Mora, author of “A Wild Radiance” and many others joins us as we descend into this labyrinth of class, gender, angst, repression, and artistic agonies.Questions we discuss: Can art be a revolution? What makes a good plot twist work? Where is the line between effective and overwrought prose? Is it possible to get head so good you join a new political movement?Go check out Maria’s work and get a copy of “A Wild Radiance!”https://www.mariamora.net/Go support Workers’ Lit on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/workerslit(Production Note: Lenore’s internet was a problem so she had to drop out of the episode midway through and we didn’t get any of her audio. As such there may be an occasional odd-sounding moment in the first half because we had to cut around Lenore. Apologies for any confusion this may create!)

It’s the big one. Our most requested text ever. The spectre haunting Europe is now haunting our podcast.It’s 1848’s “The Communist Manifesto” from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels!What are the origins of this earth shattering text? Where does it still hold up, and what needs adjusting for a modern context? Did Marx and Engels ever kiss? We discuss it all!If you ever wanted to learn about the foundation of communism but bounced off the age of the work or lack of context, this is perfect. And if you’re a certified Marx expert there’s still stuff to love. It’s a good episode!!Go support Workers’ Lit on Patreon!https://patreon.com/workerslitRead or listen to the Communist Manifesto yourself here, it’s not long!https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf/Manifesto.pdfhttps://www.marxists.org/audiobooks/archive/marx-engels/communist-manifesto/index.htm

We've returned to the dark abyss that is the mind of Just Dance Vance.AJ Ditty of The Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast joins us to take on Vice President JD Vance's newest book, "Communion: Finding my way back to faith." Vance tells us all how he totally became an authentic Catholic, definitely believes in God, and certainly isn't merely trying to set up a 2028 presidential run.Topics in this discussion include Vance's quirky millennial-ness, Vance as wife guy, the networks of money behind Vance, and some helpful tips to shut down anyone who tries to say this dude is worth your time.Link to our original episode on JD Vance (Hillbilly Elegy):https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MiUlc8fho79aP1twvVDDzCheck out The Worst of All Possible Worlds: https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAllGet tickets to see AJ's play, "Heart of Duckness":https://portlandstage.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SPa00000dFOunMAGGo support Workers' Lit on Patreon!https://patreon.com/workerslit

Grab your three-ringed binders, highlighters, and spellbooks, this week we're talking about "The Incandescent," a 2025 academia fantasy novel by Emily Tesh.We've got schools, and labor concerns, and demons, and bisexuality, and a fantastic guest: Brandon Crilly, author, organizer, and all around cool guy. You may know his novels, such as "Catalyst" and "Castoff," or perhaps his work on The Expanse RPG. Know him or not, you'll be a fan by the end of this episode!You can check out everything Brandon's up to here:https://linktr.ee/brandoncrillyGo support us on Patreon, where we release exclusive content such as author interviews (including an upcoming one with Brandon himself!)https://Patreon.com/workerslit

It’s time to talk about a true living legend: Angela Davis.Educational YouTuber and podcaster RevolutionaryTh0t joins us to talk about the life of one of the greatest thinkers and organizers of our time before we hop into the 1981 book, “Women, Race, and Class.”Fair warning, this book gets into the truly brutal American history of its three titular topics, so please be aware this episode features discussion of sexual and racial violence.RevolutionaryTh0t is a non-binary socialist trying to undo decades of Red Scare propaganda and get people to believe in themselves so we can build a better world - one in which the individual can come to full fruition. Check out their fantastic YouTube Channel, as well as the podcast “Half The Sky,” at the links below.https://www.youtube.com/@revolutionaryth0thttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/half-the-sky-podcast/id6786116578Go support us and get bonus content at our Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/workerslitListen to the eugenics episode of “Ill Conceived” referenced on the pod here:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Y7D9TuIhTD10Awoa3ZdRr?si=akdhoPwvQ_WZWWYJT42ZWA

Pull up a chair listeners, and heed the tale of a man named Zakalwe…This month’s listener-chosen episode is “Use of Weapons” by Iain M. Banks, a 1990 sci-fi novel and one of the most famous entries in “The Culture” series.Imagine an alien civilization so advanced that they spend all their time trying to help other species develop. Now imagine they have to recruit a mercenary to help them with extremely sticky situations. Now imagine that mercenary is the most obnoxiously try-hard faux cool jerk with deep-seated trauma surrounding cuck chairs.Imagine that and you’ve got this book.Want to suggest and help pick out future episode topics? Want access to weekly bonus content? Check out our Patreon!https://patreon.com/workerslit

We are joined once again by Rae of the phenomenal ProlesPod, this time to discuss a deeply influential work of philosophy: Mao Zedong's 1937 essay, "On Practice."Perhaps one day we'll do our big Mao deep dive episode. This isn't that. Instead, this is a close look at a particular aspect of practical theory for changing the world...and regardless of your take on what came after, it cannot be denied the Chinese Communists were pretty damn effective at that whole, "changing the world thing." You can read or listen to the essay here:https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-1/mswv1_16.htmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86RIzuWVsYAGo check out ProlesPod! It's a podcast about history, politics, and culture...without the liberalism.https://prolespod.libsyn.com/Go check out Half The Sky, Rae and Lenore's other podcast for communist women (and women adjacent).https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/half-the-sky-podcast/id6786116578And finally, make sure you support us on Patreon!https://patreon.com/workerslit

Let's get into some THEORY (don't worry, we make it fun)!Lenore, Jacob, and Jen are discussing the revolutionary Vladimir Lenin's famous 1916 text, "Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism." Despite being more than 100 years old, this book feels deeply relevant in 2026...terrifyingly so.We talk about the life of Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks, before going through the book chapter by chapter, showing how capitalism creates monopoly which chases after greater profits that eventually leads to imperialism and war. It's intense stuff, but it brings great clarity to the world we live in.The entire book is available here:https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/The USSR is a complex and divisive topic. If you're interested in a primer on Soviet history, check out this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb5grDNww6USupport us on Patreon!https://patreon.com/workerslitCheck out "Half The Sky!"https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/half-the-sky-podcast/id6786116578