On June 29th, 2025, the Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute (SEDI) hosted historian Tom Goyens for a compelling talk on the life and legacy of Johann Most, the infamous yet often misunderstood figure of early anarchism. Drawing on his forthcoming scholarly biography from the University of Illinois Press—the first of its kind in English—Goyens traced Most's evolution from a German social democrat to a pioneering anarchist agitator in the United States.

Far more than a caricature of anarchist bomb-throwing, Johann Most emerges in this discussion as a transnational figure shaped by exile, prison, and propaganda. Goyens highlights Most’s role in mentoring figures like Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman, editing the long-running Freiheit newspaper, and wrestling with questions of violence, aesthetics, and political strategy. The talk also explores Most’s ideological transformation, his theatrical flair, and his enduring influence on American and European radical movements—even as his image was vilified in the press and sidelined by history.

Tom Goyens is the author of Beer and Revolution and a contributor to the study of immigrant radicalism, anarchist print culture, and transatlantic political currents. His forthcoming anthology of Most’s writings will help reintroduce a neglected voice into contemporary debates on anarchism and political violence.

This event was part of SEDI’s ongoing speaker series, bringing together radical thinkers, organizers, and historians to deepen our understanding of the past and sharpen our interventions in the present.

The Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute:
https://www.dolgoffinstitute.com/

Explore Tom Goyens’ work:
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/category/author/tom-goyens

Pre-Order on Amazon - Johann Most: Life of a Radical:
https://a.co/d/hIKBIB7

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On May 25th, 2025, the Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute (SEDI) hosted philosopher, poet, and long-time New Orleans anarchist John Clark—also known by the pen name Max Cafard—for a wide-ranging discussion on his latest book, Anarchy in the Big Easy. Drawing from decades of experience in radical theory and grassroots activism, Clark offered a deeply personal and politically provocative portrait of New Orleans as a site of ecological struggle, cultural resistance, and libertarian possibility.

John Clark is the author of numerous works including The Impossible Community, The Tragedy of Common Sense, and Between Earth and Empire. His writings under the name Max Cafard have appeared widely in anarchist and ecological publications, and he is a founding figure in the New Orleans-based Institute for the Radical Imagination.

This event was part of SEDI’s ongoing speaker series, bringing together radical thinkers, organizers, and historians to deepen our understanding of the past and sharpen our interventions in the present. Most talks are not recorded, but SEDI is working to make more of these vital conversations accessible to wider audiences.

The Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute:
https://www.dolgoffinstitute.com/

Read Anarchy in the Big Easy:
http://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1766

Explore John Clark / Max Cafard’s writings:
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/category/author/john-clark

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On April 27th, 2025, the Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute (SEDI) hosted journalist and antifascist theorist Shane Burley for a talk titled “The Trump Drive to Fascism.” Drawing from his extensive work on far-right movements, Shane explored the evolving landscape of American authoritarianism, the ideological currents that fuel Trumpism, and the historical stakes for anti-fascist and anarchist resistance. With an eye toward both theory and strategy, Shane examined how contemporary fascist movements operate, the convergence between state power and street-level reaction, and the role that anarchists and other radicals can play in resisting the next phase of far-right resurgence.

Shane Burley is the author of Fascism Today: What It Is and How to End It, a frequent contributor to Truthout, Jewish Currents, and The Baffler, and a leading voice on fascism, white nationalism, and antifascist organizing.

This was part of SEDI’s ongoing speaker series, where they bring together radical thinkers, organizers, and historians to deepen our understanding of the past and sharpen our interventions in the present. Most talks are not recorded, but they are now working to make more of these critical conversations publicly available.

The Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute:
https://www.dolgoffinstitute.com/

Shane Burley's Work:
Website: https://www.shaneburley.org/
Anarchist Library: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/category/author/shane-burley

Sam and Esther Dolgoff Archive:
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/category/author/sam-dolgoff

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On March 23rd, 2025 the Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute (SEDI) hosted David Van Deusen for a talk about insurgent labor, the current state of the unions, and the future of our libertarian and socialist fight against domination and exploitation. David is a libertarian socialist, the former president of the Vermont AFL-CIO and United Slate champion, and one time member of the Green Mountain Anarchist Collective.

Though SEDI has hosted several guests before, the discussion isn't usually recorded. This will hopefully be one of many recordings to come out of SEDI's regular meetings.

The Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute:
https://www.dolgoffinstitute.com/

David Van Deusen's Book, "Insurgent Labor":
https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1581

David Van Deusen's Writings at the Anarchist Library:
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/search?query=author%3ADavid+Van+Deusen

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In this episode, we sit down with Adar Weinreb, founder of Sulha, to explore the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and discuss alternative governance models beyond the nation-state. From the failures of partition to federal and confederal solutions like the Federation Plan, we delve into how decentralized frameworks could address the challenges of coexistence. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the obstacles, possibilities, and reimagined futures for peace in the region.



SULHA - A platform where we have respectful conversations around contentious issues. We have a primary focus on Israel-Palestine but often branch out into other topics like antisemitism and other geopolitical issues:
https://www.youtube.com/@Sulha

DEBATE: Israel-Palestine w/ Noam Chomsky & Rudy Rochman:
https://www.youtube.com/live/89GVWT-Dbys?si=NM8MWMDTzKhau9dQ

DEBATE: Israel-Palestine w/ Rafi Gassel & Emanuel Shahaf | The Great Debate #27:
https://www.youtube.com/live/pNTASKy5JhI?si=rNFs_Fal1oTSpo9y

The Federation Plan:
https://federation.org.il/index.php/en/the-federation-plan

Daniel Boyarin's The No-State Solution: A Jewish Manifesto:
https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300251289/the-no-state-solution/

Martin Buber's Paths in Utopia:
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/martin-buber-paths-in-utopia-en

Dmitry Shumsky's Beyond the Nation-State: The Zionist Political Imagination from Pinsker to Ben-Gurion:
https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300230130/beyond-the-nation-state/

James Horrox's A Living Revolution:
https://jameshorrox.com/a-living-revolution/

UN Partition Plan of 1947 (Historical Background):
https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-208958/

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How does someone introduce Barrett Brown? That's a really tough one because the personal, professional, and political stories play off each other in numerous ways. I would have to say that first of all, Barrett Brown is one of too few to survive a very intense era of anti-authoritarian activism and state repression. In addition, Brown is a survivor of the innumerable disappointments that I feel have had a big impact on the way things are now. He is someone who has comprehended the contemporary moment and has participated in its unfolding with the skills at his disposal and he is someone who has paid a big price for taking those risks. Naturally, his recently released book, "My Glorious Defeats: Hacktivist, Narcissist, Anonymous: A Memoir of Barrett Brown" is an excellent insight into what I just said and though I'm only on Chapter 5, it has been an enjoyable read.

One of the things that Barrett is well-know for is his relationship with Anonymous at the peak of their Hacktivist period. That's what we're going to be focusing on, along with where Anonymous has gone from there.

READ (or LISTEN) to Barrett's new book, "My Glorious Defests: Hacktivist, Narcissist, Anonymous: A Memoir":
https://a.co/d/4tIPo6l

Wikipedia Page for Barrett Brown:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_Brown

The New York Time "This Hacker’s Story Is Deranged, Hyperbolic and True":
https://archive.ph/h6zfO

New York Mag "The Ballad of Barrett Brown":
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/the-ballad-of-barrett-brown.html

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Last month Douglas Lain (of Sublation Media) hosted a conversation between myself and Spencer Leonard. We reviewed Mikhail Bakunin's work "Statism and Anarchy" and contrasted Bakunin’s thinking with Proudhon and Marx. After some initial confusion, Doug was kind enough to give me the full episode for public release! Enjoy :)

Originally distributed by @sublationmedia

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This is a brief announcement and explanation of ongoing events threatening union democracy at the center of its progress in Vermont. David Feurzeig joins me to go over the context and the detail what is happening.

LINK TO THE PETITION:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/vt-united-petition

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