Ben Burgis
@benburgis.bsky.social
GTAA host, Jacobin columnist, adjunct philosophy prof, TMBS crew for life
Pinned
Bhaskar Sunkara vs. Eric Levitz on Market Socialism
If we can't get rid of markets entirely, would socialism even be worth it? Would stopping at social democracy be so bad?
benburgis.substack.com
This week's Philosophy for the People essay takes a look at Eric Levitz's recent exchange with Bhaskar Sunkara on the model of socialism Bhaskar, Mike Beggs, and I propose in our new book:
My latest for @jacobinmag.bsky.social covers as much as I could fit into one article of what Ted Cruz is confused about with regards to socialism, Marxism, and related subjects:
Marxism Is Not Socialism on Steroids
In raising the alarm about New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Senator Ted Cruz said Mamdani is not just a mere socialist. No, he’s something far more extreme: a Marxist. Cruz is very confused a...
jacobin.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:21 PM
My latest for @jacobinmag.bsky.social covers as much as I could fit into one article of what Ted Cruz is confused about with regards to socialism, Marxism, and related subjects:
I'm in UnHerd today, responding to Bret Stephens's NYT article making the case for regime change in Venezuela.
Every time the Stephenses of the world get excited by the scent of blood, they tell us *this* war will be different from the last one. And the one before that. And the one before that...
Every time the Stephenses of the world get excited by the scent of blood, they tell us *this* war will be different from the last one. And the one before that. And the one before that...
Hawks are trying to drag America into war with Venezuela
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States will designate Cartel de los Soles, which he says is headed by Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro, as a Foreign Terroris...
unherd.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I'm in UnHerd today, responding to Bret Stephens's NYT article making the case for regime change in Venezuela.
Every time the Stephenses of the world get excited by the scent of blood, they tell us *this* war will be different from the last one. And the one before that. And the one before that...
Every time the Stephenses of the world get excited by the scent of blood, they tell us *this* war will be different from the last one. And the one before that. And the one before that...
This week's Philosophy for the People essay takes a look at Eric Levitz's recent exchange with Bhaskar Sunkara on the model of socialism Bhaskar, Mike Beggs, and I propose in our new book:
Bhaskar Sunkara vs. Eric Levitz on Market Socialism
If we can't get rid of markets entirely, would socialism even be worth it? Would stopping at social democracy be so bad?
benburgis.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:57 PM
This week's Philosophy for the People essay takes a look at Eric Levitz's recent exchange with Bhaskar Sunkara on the model of socialism Bhaskar, Mike Beggs, and I propose in our new book:
My latest for @jacobinmag.bsky.social:
Schumer Democrats Can’t Stop Trump. Mamdani Democrats Might.
A week after Zohran Mamdani’s inspiring win, the Democratic Party’s centrist leadership proved its worthlessness in the Senate. The moderate party establishment is no match for Trumpism. It’s time to ...
jacobin.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:57 PM
My latest for @jacobinmag.bsky.social:
Honestly, I'm a bit ambivalent about the headline they put on this. I think there's a pretty clear sense in which "the Democrats" don't deserve a thing.
But I do think the *country* deserves an opposition party that's not led by Chuck f---ing Schumer.
My latest for @unherd.com:
But I do think the *country* deserves an opposition party that's not led by Chuck f---ing Schumer.
My latest for @unherd.com:
Democrats deserve better than Chuck Schumer
A growing number of Congressional Democrats have been calling for Chuck Schumer to step down as Senate Minority Leader. Discontent with Schumer has been brewing for a long time. Things came to a head,...
unherd.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Honestly, I'm a bit ambivalent about the headline they put on this. I think there's a pretty clear sense in which "the Democrats" don't deserve a thing.
But I do think the *country* deserves an opposition party that's not led by Chuck f---ing Schumer.
My latest for @unherd.com:
But I do think the *country* deserves an opposition party that's not led by Chuck f---ing Schumer.
My latest for @unherd.com:
Going up a few hours late (mostly couldn't get a seat, much less WiFi, on various trains in between London and Abergavenny today), but this week's Philosophy for the People essay is up!
What Marx's Comments on Aristotle and John Stuart Mill Reveal About His Critique of Political Economy
Marx was obviously very far from being a market socialist. But, that doesn't mean he equated markets and capitalism.
benburgis.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Going up a few hours late (mostly couldn't get a seat, much less WiFi, on various trains in between London and Abergavenny today), but this week's Philosophy for the People essay is up!
I'm in @jacobinmag.bsky.social today with a look at the ways in which Zohran is uniquely Bernie's heir--both in that he's a *product* of the post-Bernie left in a way none of the other nationally prominent "Berniecrats" were and in his adoption of Bernie's left-populist communication playbook.
November 5, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I'm in @jacobinmag.bsky.social today with a look at the ways in which Zohran is uniquely Bernie's heir--both in that he's a *product* of the post-Bernie left in a way none of the other nationally prominent "Berniecrats" were and in his adoption of Bernie's left-populist communication playbook.
Reposted by Ben Burgis
Heading to Historical Materialism to present on G.A Cohen
November 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Heading to Historical Materialism to present on G.A Cohen
Coming up in eight days at Bar Freda in Queens!
October 27, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Coming up in eight days at Bar Freda in Queens!
My latest for @jacobinmag.bsky.social:
Take the GOP’s Nazi Group Chats Seriously
Ironic fascism is a disturbing symptom of the Trumpist right’s mounting ethnonationalism and authoritarianism.
jacobin.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
My latest for @jacobinmag.bsky.social:
I suspect the actual release date is going to be a few months later than the one they've got on here right now, but still pretty cool--there's a pre-order page up for The Blueprint:
The Blueprint: How Socialism Can Work in the Real World
The Blueprint: How Socialism Can Work in the Real World - Kindle edition by Sunkara, Bhaskar, Burgis, Ben, Beggs, Mike. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Blueprint: How Socialism Can Work in the Real World.
www.amazon.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I suspect the actual release date is going to be a few months later than the one they've got on here right now, but still pretty cool--there's a pre-order page up for The Blueprint:
Reposted by Ben Burgis
Realized I never said "unquote" after reciting a famous poem in 10th grade. Sorry if you thought everything I've said since is Shakespeare
May 18, 2023 at 3:18 PM
Realized I never said "unquote" after reciting a famous poem in 10th grade. Sorry if you thought everything I've said since is Shakespeare
Coming up in exactly two weeks!
October 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Coming up in exactly two weeks!
Going live in about 10 minutes:
Trump: We Lost Vietnam and Iraq Because of Woke
YouTube video by Give Them An Argument w/Ben Burgis
www.youtube.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Going live in about 10 minutes:
The "No Kings" protests were great.
But the other half of the message needs to be "No Oligarchs."
My latest for @unherd.com:
But the other half of the message needs to be "No Oligarchs."
My latest for @unherd.com:
No Kings protests can’t overlook workers
On Saturday, 2700 “No Kings” rallies were held across the United States. Early estimates put the total attendance at around seven million people. This massive turnout speaks to widespread popular diss...
unherd.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The "No Kings" protests were great.
But the other half of the message needs to be "No Oligarchs."
My latest for @unherd.com:
But the other half of the message needs to be "No Oligarchs."
My latest for @unherd.com:
No Kings, No Oligarchs.
Start there.
Start there.
October 18, 2025 at 11:06 PM
No Kings, No Oligarchs.
Start there.
Start there.
October 18, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Going live at 11:30 AM East Coast/8:30 West Coast to talk a little labor theory of value and exploitation:
The Labor Theory of Value and Marx's Theory of Exploitation
YouTube video by Give Them An Argument w/Ben Burgis
www.youtube.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Going live at 11:30 AM East Coast/8:30 West Coast to talk a little labor theory of value and exploitation:
Reposted by Ben Burgis
Going live in about half an hour (at 11:30 AM East Coast/8:30 AM West Coast) to take a look at an interesting impromptu mini-debate on a recent episode of Breaking Points:
Krystal Ball vs. Saagar Enjeti: Is it “Neo-Confederate” to Refuse to Cooperate with ICE?
YouTube video by Give Them An Argument w/Ben Burgis
www.youtube.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Going live in about half an hour (at 11:30 AM East Coast/8:30 AM West Coast) to take a look at an interesting impromptu mini-debate on a recent episode of Breaking Points:
In a little over half an hour (at 11:30 AM East Coast/8:30 AM West Coast), I'm going to go live for a little breakdown of Curtis Yarvin's very odd essay "You Can't Handle the Truth."
Curtis Yarvin Says We Can't Handle the Truth
YouTube video by Give Them An Argument w/Ben Burgis
www.youtube.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
In a little over half an hour (at 11:30 AM East Coast/8:30 AM West Coast), I'm going to go live for a little breakdown of Curtis Yarvin's very odd essay "You Can't Handle the Truth."
This week's Philosophy for the People essay:
If You Want to Critique Analytic Philosophy, It Helps to Know Something About It
A note on Neil Vallelly's essay "Analytic Philosophy Is a Dead End for the Left."
benburgis.substack.com
October 12, 2025 at 2:49 PM
This week's Philosophy for the People essay:
I'm in @msnbc.com today, writing about the particular chickens currently coming home to roost:
October 12, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I'm in @msnbc.com today, writing about the particular chickens currently coming home to roost:
My latest for @jacobinmag.bsky.social:
Trump: The US Lost Vietnam and Afghanistan Due to Woke
Donald Trump thinks the US was constrained by “political correctness” in Vietnam and Afghanistan. But those wars were characterized by thorough dehumanization and staggering destruction. What type of ...
jacobin.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
My latest for @jacobinmag.bsky.social:
Going live in a little over 10 minutes (at 11:30 AM EST/8:30 PST):
Robert Nozick's Wilt Chamberlain Argument Against Redistribution
YouTube video by Give Them An Argument w/Ben Burgis
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Going live in a little over 10 minutes (at 11:30 AM EST/8:30 PST):