Historian & journalist Esha Krishnaswamy returns to Bad Faith to apply a historical lens to the Jacobin-left's argument that the left needs to moderate in order to become more palatable to normie audiences. Applying lessons from the Bolsheviks and other actually-existing-socialist states, Esha argues that the role of leftists in the imperial core is heighten the contradictions of capital and support imperialist struggles -- not to sacrifice that support in the hope of gaining acceptance by zionist corporate elites. What do we make of elected leftists who can't clearly answer a question about whether Netanyahu should be arrested, or say 'the IMF is bad"? While the right is forcing the vote on condemning socialism, will elected leftists ever use their leverage for...anything at all? With Zohran & AOC-endorsed Hakeem Jeffries meeting with the informal lord-regent of Gaza, & the DSA electeds disclaiming, not defending, socialism, does history provide some guide posts to help the left reorient itself at a time when world events are exposing the vulnerabilities of capitalism & imperialism? Esha Article Links: https://historic.ly/israels-new-madagascar-plan/ https://youtube.com/@Historicly?si=Wu50BLSMmqEPR34s Find Bad Faith on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts. Or subscribe to our RSS feed. Follow Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod). Subscribe at patreon.com/badfaithpodcast for an additional Monday episode every week. Watch all episodes at Bad Faith YouTube, and don't forget to like and subscribe. Theme by Nick Thorburn (@nickfromislands). 0:00 Socialism, strategy, and Bad Faith 0:51 Esha Krishnaswamy on the Jacobin debate 7:04 Anti-imperialism and the American left 16:46 Raising consciousness beyond incrementalism 31:29 Direct action before legal reform 39:46 Cuba, sanctions, and empire narratives 47:25 AOC, Hakeem Jeffries, and Democratic loyalty 57:07 Media exclusion and socialist achievements 1:03:05 Anti-socialist rhetoric and capitalism’s harms 1:12:09 Building a left political alternative 1:24:15 Gaza, anti-Semitism, and historical memory 1:30:52 Abolishing the Senate and inspiring mass action 1:42:18 A separate party for the socialist left 1:49:42 China’s Belt and Road versus the IMF 1:55:58 Closing reflections and where to find Isha