This Wreckage

<p>Sean is joined by favorite guest and wife <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.raxkingisdead.com/">Rax King</a> to discuss her upcoming essay in journalism cooperative <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://flaminghydra.com/">Flaming Hydra</a> on why organizing in the food service industry is so difficult but also so vital. What will it take for labor to break through in this industry? What can restaurant work teach us about labor in general? Why are these restaurant owners always clenching their jaws and sweating so much? Answers to these questions, an introduction to Rax's patented Nine Rigors system of becoming a human, an old fashioned gripezone and more on this special, last minute episode.</p><p>To support our work and get access to all our bonus material become a patron at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.patreon.com/thiswreckage">https://www.patreon.com/thiswreckage </a></p><p>Check out Rax King's excellent newsletter for all her great writings: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.patreon.com/c/raxkingisdead/home">https://www.patreon.com/c/raxkingisdead/home</a></p><p>Come see Rax in person in NYC for the Veiled Prophet event: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-veiled-prophet-nyc-book-event-tickets-1990109537198">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-veiled-prophet-nyc-book-event-tickets-1990109537198</a></p>

<p>As Sean and Varn reconvene we are faced with the unenviable task of trying to understand what the hell the Democratic Party is going to run on in 2026 and 2028, How to understand this economic moment? How to understand the various geopolitical crises around the globe? How are counterhegemonic actors like Graham Platner and Alex Jones going to politically confront the brave new world of AI? Stay tuned!</p><p>To listen to the entire episode including the bonus section become a supporter of our show at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.patreon.com/c/thiswreckage">www.patreon.com/thiswreckage</a></p><p>To watch the video of this whole episode become a supporter of C Derick Varn at www.patreon.com/varnvlog</p><p>Links: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRqRb6xYtEQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRqRb6xYtEQ</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cio.com/article/4131876/data-center-capex-to-hit-1-7-trillion-by-2030-due-to-ai-boom.html">https://www.cio.com/article/4131876/data-center-capex-to-hit-1-7-trillion-by-2030-due-to-ai-boom.html</a></p><p></p>

<p>NEW EP! Was Trump's China trip a Nothing Burger or a soy slop?</p><p>Why does the Deep State care so much about Taiwan?</p><p>And Sean's NY☭ hat came from WHERE?</p><p>All that plus choo-choo talk (LIRR Strike) in the bonus! For the full episode, sign up at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.patreon.com/c/thiswreckage">http://patreon.com/thiswreckage</a></p><p></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/nyregion/lirr-strike-long-island-rail-road.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/nyregion/lirr-strike-long-island-rail-road.html</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/16/us-news/hochul-pushed-lirr-strike-to-pick-up-votes-on-long-island-from-gop-opponent-transit-union-chief/">https://nypost.com/2026/05/16/us-news/hochul-pushed-lirr-strike-to-pick-up-votes-on-long-island-from-gop-opponent-transit-union-chief/</a></p><p>De-Tuckerized version of Sean's hat: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.neoliberalhell.com/shop/p/mysterious-hat">https://www.neoliberalhell.com/shop/p/mysterious-hat</a></p><p></p><p>Song: Misfits - She (Demo version)</p>

<p>NEWS EP! Sean reports back from the a Beverly Hills Hedge Fund summit. Europe goes solar punk. US debt passes GDP as Project Freedom fails, and the Mideast bases lie in ruin. Is America through, or just through being cool? </p><p><strong>Billionaires Unfazed by Iran</strong>: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/19bda51e-fb62-4432-bc37-b9b425f19edd">https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/19bda51e-fb62-4432-bc37-b9b425f19edd</a></p><p> <strong>Labor Market Unfazed by Iran</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/57482c61-164e-4f48-8214-370b269ac7b6">https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/57482c61-164e-4f48-8214-370b269ac7b6</a></p><p><strong>Europe Solar/Iran War</strong>: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/business/europe-solar-panels-iran-war.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/business/europe-solar-panels-iran-war.html</a></p><p><strong> US Debt Milestone</strong>: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/business/us-debt-trump-policies-budget.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/business/us-debt-trump-policies-budget.html</a></p><p><strong>This (US base) Wreckage:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/01/world/video/us-military-bases-iran-strikes-images-invs-digvid">https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/01/world/video/us-military-bases-iran-strikes-images-invs-digvid</a></p><p><strong>"Operation Trust Me Bro"</strong> : <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/05/07/top-iran-negotiator-mocks-operation-trust-me-bro-and-questions-reports-of-trumps-peace-proposal/">https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/05/07/top-iran-negotiator-mocks-operation-trust-me-bro-and-questions-reports-of-trumps-peace-proposal/</a></p><p><strong>Saudi/Kuwait Cold Feet</strong> — Gulf states pulling back from US posture on Hormuz <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/us/politics/trump-strait-of-hormuz-saudis.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/us/politics/trump-strait-of-hormuz-saudis.html</a></p><p><strong>Iran Economic Wreckage</strong>: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/world/middleeast/iran-economy-layoffs.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/world/middleeast/iran-economy-layoffs.html</a></p><p><strong>America is through being cool?</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/opinion/vintage-clothes-america-cool-culture.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/opinion/vintage-clothes-america-cool-culture.html</a></p><p>Song: Nirvana - Milk It</p>

<p>We're joined by Henry Wallis of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=Fe17CZ1Pc4E">FORMS podcast</a> to guide us through one of the most obscure and challenging, yet arguably most consequential Biblical texts: the Book of Revelations.</p><p></p><p><strong>For the FULL episode, Discord access, and all bonus content support the show at </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.patreon.com/c/thiswreckage"><strong>http:///patreon.com/ThisWreckage</strong></a></p><p></p><p>Written by a Christian exile on an Aegean Island in a time of intense imperial Civil War and internal repression of Jews and Christians, the text is interpreted by scholars as a coded polemic against tyranny and assimilation, and by end-times preachers (and US officials) as a description of contemporary events. Now, Henry, the Orthodox scholar, Sean, the occasional Church-goer, and Andy, the non-practicing Reddit Athiest, will take on the text with fresh eyes. </p><p>We read from the King James Bible and David Bentley Hart's translation of the New Testament</p><p></p><p>Song: Blind Willie Johnson - John the Revelator </p>