The Collateral Banter Podcast

Colette, Sue, and Dan debate the pitfalls and promises of self-interest and the Common Good. How Government Can Help Americans Find the Common Good Again | Time

Please be advised that this episode contains language that some may find upsetting starting at 37 minutes.   The Vaya con Muñoz team takes over Collateral Banter on this special episode. They cover Joe Biden's reelection announcement, the recent Supreme Court decisions (and scandals), and the brouhaha engulfing Easthampton's (MA) Schools. A spirited debate breaks out on trans rights in female sports among progressives.  Complex questions are raised but few answers are provided.                

Sue, Col, and Danny on the "ladies" controversy out of Easthampton, MA. The panel then tackles the urgent questions of artificial intelligence--should we fear it or respect it? Will it destroy jobs? Which jobs? Is A.I. making us smarter or stupid? The conversation ends bring up Tarfdigrades! If you start this episode, you must listen until the end.      

Will SCOTUS obliterate Section 230? Danny T fears for the future of free speech online with Sue T. and Matt Szafranski, from Western Mass Politics and Insight. 

Danny T asks Sue and Colette to share their stories about the decline of free speech in the western Massachusetts.      

In recaping the latest stories, Danny T reacts to the mid-term election results, Trump's presidential announcement, Boris Johnson's speech to Asian business leaders, and Iranian protests. 

Danny continues the conversation with public anthropologist Jon Zibbell, discussing how material relations is at the core of our understanding of race, gender, and the revanchist politics found in America today.      

For the 100th episode, Danny T. chats with Jon Zibbell, a behavior scientist trained in anthropology.  He is one of the foremost urban and rural anthropologists in America who worked under President Obama's drug czar, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and is a researcher at RTI.   Their conversation connects the current opioid crisis to urban and rural deindustrialization in America.       

Danny T shares his thoughts on January 6th and on the political crisis growing in America.    US could be under rightwing dictator by 2030, Canadian professor warns | US politics | The Guardian

Danny T goes off the deep end on this episode.  He talks about the power of governments to manipulate the weather and a report confirming that the Department of Homeland Security spies on journalists.   Chernobyl’s disastrous cover-up is a warning for the next nuclear age | Kate Brown | The GuardianChina ‘modified’ the weather to create clear skies for political celebration – study | China | The GuardianOperation Whistle Pig: Inside the secret CBP unit with no rules that investigates Americans (yahoo.com)Exclusive: U.S. directs agents to cover up program used to investigate Americans | Reuters

"History doesn't repeat but it often rhymes." Well, history is rhyming in France right now as the presidential election nears.   

Danny T talks about the "eight" things he learned about Osama Bin Laden from Peter Bergen's book on the former leader of al-Qaeda.   

Danny T talks about the current economic crisis, inflation, COVID-19 and how the election 1876 served as a model to subvert the election in 2020. 

The banter explores the instability in the Chinese real-estate, how a potential war in Taiwan shores up support for Beijing, how American politics mirrors Poland, and  how tribalism may end the American democratic experiment.           

The banter begins on the mental toll of COVID-19 and the similarities between  France and America. Danny concludes this episode by analyzing the different forms of Power in the 21st century.      

Danny T banters about  California's recall, China's Evergrande, the U.S. debt ceiling, France's Eric Zammour, and Mark Milley's comments about Trump.  

Danny T discusses an autonomous drone kill, Poland's attack on democracy, and the war in Afghanistan. 

Sue Timberlake, from Civil Politics, continues the conversation about free-markets, the far-right, and "creative destruction."   

Sue Timberlake, a real conservative, explains the state of Republican party and makes the case for free-market economics.          

Western Mass ACLU lawyer Bill Newman talks Trump and the threats to democracy and voting rights in America.   Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

ACLU Lawyer and radio host Bill Newman shares his insights on the social and political upheaval of the 1960s and 70s--- from Vietnam to Nixon.  Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Danny T discusses the letter written by French generals threatening violence and civil war.  Le Pen, the far-right candidate, may win the presidential elections next year. Her growing popularity spurred President Macron to wage a battle against American social science woke-ism. The right-wing authoritarianism is alive in the heart of Europe. A Le Pen win would likely end the European Union and cripple NATO.  Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC  

I rant on the human and economic cost of the war in Afghanistan after President Biden announced the removal of US troops from that country. Is America really ending another forever war?    Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Danny T talks about the complexity of race, class, and democracy.Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC 

I discuss the importance of Robert Brenner's The Economics of Global Turbulence and alternatives to the current economic crisis that don't involve replacing capitalism.   

Danny T invites Janra and Mike from the show Civil Politics and local activist Nathaniel Waring, from the Via Com Munoz show, to discuss the politics behind the Star Trek series Deep Space Nine.  We discuss capitalism, colonialism, war, oppression, and the secret police.    

Matt Szafranski, from Western Mass Politics and Insight, joins the host Danny T. to discuss Trump's call with Georgia's Secretary of State and the raid on the Capitol building on Wednesday, January 6th.    Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Mastro returns to Collateral Banter. What's on the docket? Aliens? Check. Baudrillard? Damn right. Trump? Of course. Hegemonic decline? Sure. America's culture of anti-intellectualism? You better believe it.  Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Matt Szafranski, from western Massachusetts Politics and Insight, returns to Collateral Banter to discuss the 2020 election results and the future of the Democratic and Republican parties.  The audio quality isn't great, but you'll enjoy the banter.   Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Janra and Michael from Civil Politics joins Danny T. on Collateral Banter to discuss the 2020 election, the Democratic primary, and the possibility that Trump will not leave office even if he loses.   Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC 

Danny T wraps up his conversation with Matt, Editor-in-Chief and founder of Western Mass Politics and Insight. Danny starts off by ranting who he thinks is responsible for Trump's victory in 2016. They then banter about the power of fringe movements to change politics and culture, from the far-right movement to the QAnon conspiracy. Matt also tells us how the blog Western Mass Politics & Insight got started.      Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Danny T invites Matt Szafranski, the Editor-in-Chief and founder of WMassP&I, to discuss the US election. They discuss the possibility of a disputed election, the power of the media, the potential for political violence, and the two-party system.       Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Yoda banters with Danny on Trump's 2020 electoral outlook, Putin's role in international relations, and the Far Right's grip on global politics.  Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC     

Danny T.'s friend Joda returns to banter about the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 90s, Russian oligarchs in power, and the devastation endured by Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union.       Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

The erosion of democracy occurs when President Trump, the Republicans and the Democrats violate or promise to violate democratic norms. Danny T. discusses all of this and more on Episode 73.   Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Danny T. discusses the structural reasons for political autocratization of American politics and mentions Baudrillard who predicted our chaotic reality decades ago.   V-Dem's report on the growth of autocracy in America and around the world Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Danny starts this banter with Stefan by asking “how did [Vermont Senator] Bernie Sanders lose the [Democratic] primary?” and somehow they end the episode somewhat praising the manifesto Industrial Society and Its Future. In between, they discuss leftism, capital as power, the economic devastation of COVID, the Russian elites hatred of America, the incredible human suffering that Russia endured in the 20th century, and the economic conditions that gave rise to the Golden Age of capitalism in America.  Enjoy.     Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC  

The host Danny T interviews a local activist living in western Massachusetts on the internet's impact on democracy and communication,  the transformation of China, and the single most important issue for American progressives---Medicare-for-All.    Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Another episode from the podcast archive recorded months before Danny T. started Collateral Banter. In this episode, called American Chaos,  Danny T. speaks with his friend H-Bomb on Trump's first year of ruling America. We wanted to repost this episode before the 2020 election.            Intro and Outro Music: Music: "Not So Final Countdown" by Lonely PunkFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Western Massachusetts political activists Kate Albright-Hanna and Nathaniel Waring join Collateral Banter to discuss technology, the Democratic primary, Bernie Sanders, and the decay of Leftist politics in America.       

Months before Collateral Banter, Danny T. started a podcast called Free Radical with a friend. Danny T., in this episode known as "John," quizzes his socialist friend "Reed". They discuss capitalism, immigration, labor, utopia, China, and dissent. Can workers create change without becoming oppressive? And what's the role of technology and digital capitalism today? It's a long episode that you will hopefully enjoy.   This episode was originally recorded on April 23, 2018.  Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC 

Danny T interviews Alex Gladstein, the Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation about the Flash Drives for Freedom campaign waged against North Korea's dictatorship. This episode was originally recorded on July 14, 2017.  Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Matt Szafranski, the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Western Mass Politics & Insight, banters with Danny T. about social media, Covid-19, police reform in Springfield, mass protests, public corruption, and the 2020 election.     Check out WMassP&I  Intro and OutroMusic: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

*Very strong and offensive language is used in this episode.* It appears as if the host of this episode is "George Lopez" and he gets a call from an unexpected but special guest. They banter about wrestling polar bears shirtless, Marco Rubio's "small hands" comment, to uncovering Danny's real father. If everybody is making up reality, why can't we?  Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC   

In Part 2, Danny T continues to converse with Natalia Munoz on the meaning of Joe Biden, on how conservatives struggle to understand COVID-19, and on the need to transform public education. It's all about democracy, stupid.  Intro and Outro Music: Music: "Not So Final Countdown" by Lonely PunkFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Media journalist Natalia Munoz joins Danny T to discuss all things politics---from the slow change in democracy, to police reform, to Hillary's run for president. The next episode will be Part 2 of our conversation.  Intro and Outro Music: Music: "Not So Final Countdown" by Lonely PunkFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC 

Mastro returns to school Danny about the democratizing power of PEG (Public, Educational, Governmental) stations.  The audio isn't great but it will get better.  Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Mastro returns to record another episode of Collateral Banter. We talk COVID-19, civil liberties, Bernie Sanders, and the Red Sox. Yes, you'll hear reverb in this episode.  =)   Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC 

This episode discusses the social and political impacts of Covid-19.   Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC

Before all of the votes are counted, Danny predicts the winner of the Democratic primary and discusses the impact of the coronavirus.  Music: "Dub Kong" by CaballoFrom the Free Music ArchivesCC BY NC