Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Ecosocialist author, Ian Angus, talks with Steve about his book Metabolic Rifts: Capitalism’s Assault on the Earth System. They explore the deep, sometimes invisible ways that capitalism disrupts the planet’s fundamental life cycles –– from soil depletion and artificial fertilizers to the carbon cycle driving global warming.
Ian traces the concept of “metabolic rift” from Marx and Engels through a long socialist lineage, making the case that ecological critique has always been central to the Marxist tradition. (Indeed, some Marxists might argue that “eco-” is an unnecessary qualifier; “socialism” is enough!)
Steve brings up the MMT basics challenging the austerity narrative that blocks ecological reconstruction. He reminds us that the state, as the currency issuer, can de-commodify the essentials of life, namely food, water, housing, and healthcare. However, as Ian bluntly states: “The problem is that it’s not our government, it’s their government.” Reformism and electoralism are dead ends.
While listeners may disagree with some of Ian’s interpretations of Soviet history, those comments do not negate the episode’s compelling analysis that capitalism’s DNA demands endless accumulation and profit. Combating the ecological crisis is inseparable from the struggle to overcome capitalism.
Ian Angus is founder and editor of the online ecosocialist journal, Climate & Capitalism and a founding member of the Global Ecosocialist Network. Among his many books are The War Against the Commons: Dispossession and Resistance in the Making of Capitalism (Monthly Review Press, 2023), A Redder Shade of Green: Intersections of Science and Socialism (Monthly Review Press, 2017) and Facing the Anthropocene: Fossil Capitalism and the Crisis of the Earth System (Monthly Review Press, 2016). His most recent is Metabolic Rifts: Capitalism’s Assault on the Earth System. (Monthly Review Press, 2026).
@ecosocialism1 on X
Chapters:
00:00 Meet Ian Angus
02:07 Metabolic Rift Origins
04:11 Capitalism Breaks Cycles
06:27 Marxist Ecology Lineage
10:17 Why Ecosocialism Matters
16:55 Scientists Behind the Thesis
24:24 Capitalism’s Core Mechanisms
29:40 Private Ownership Trap
33:24 Capital Personified
33:50 Hegemony And Cooptation
37:11 Capitalist Democracy Myth
39:19 Organizing Beyond Voting
41:24 Media Control And Nihilism
44:52 No Magic Answer
49:58 Ecosocialist Blueprint
52:34 Decommodify Essentials
54:29 MMT Meets Class Power
58:38 We Only Want Earth
01:00:20 Where To Find Ian
01:02:27 Support The Show
Weaponize Knowledge with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
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We believe all materials used in this video fall under Fair Use as defined in Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
#mmt
Weaponize Knowledge with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
Please help our Real Progressives efforts in spreading and become a monthly donor!
At PayPal
paypal.me/RealProgressives/25
At Patreon
patreon.com/realprogressives
Write for Real Progressives
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Visit our website:
realprogressives.org
Listen to our podcast:
realprogressives.org/macro-n-cheese-podcast
We believe all materials used in this video fall under Fair Use as defined in Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
Ecosocialist author, Ian Angus, talks with Steve about his book Metabolic Rifts: Capitalism’s Assault on the Earth System. They explore the deep, sometimes invisible ways that capitalism disrupts the planet’s fundamental life cycles –– from soil depletion and artificial fertilizers to the carbon cycle driving global warming.
Ian traces the concept of “metabolic rift” from Marx and Engels through a long socialist lineage, making the case that ecological critique has always been central to the Marxist tradition. (Indeed, some Marxists might argue that “eco-” is an unnecessary qualifier; “socialism” is enough!)
Steve brings up the MMT basics challenging the austerity narrative that blocks ecological reconstruction. He reminds us that the state, as the currency issuer, can de-commodify the essentials of life, namely food, water, housing, and healthcare. However, as Ian bluntly states: “The problem is that it’s not our government, it’s their government.” Reformism and electoralism are dead ends.
While listeners may disagree with some of Ian’s interpretations of Soviet history, those comments do not negate the episode’s compelling analysis that capitalism’s DNA demands endless accumulation and profit. Combating the ecological crisis is inseparable from the struggle to overcome capitalism.
Ian Angus is founder and editor of the online ecosocialist journal, Climate & Capitalism and a founding member of the Global Ecosocialist Network. Among his many books are The War Against the Commons: Dispossession and Resistance in the Making of Capitalism (Monthly Review Press, 2023), A Redder Shade of Green: Intersections of Science and Socialism (Monthly Review Press, 2017) and Facing the Anthropocene: Fossil Capitalism and the Crisis of the Earth System (Monthly Review Press, 2016). His most recent is Metabolic Rifts: Capitalism’s Assault on the Earth System. (Monthly Review Press, 2026).
@ecosocialism1 on X
Chapters:
00:00 Meet Ian Angus
02:07 Metabolic Rift Origins
04:11 Capitalism Breaks Cycles
06:27 Marxist Ecology Lineage
10:17 Why Ecosocialism Matters
16:55 Scientists Behind the Thesis
24:24 Capitalism’s Core Mechanisms
29:40 Private Ownership Trap
33:24 Capital Personified
33:50 Hegemony And Cooptation
37:11 Capitalist Democracy Myth
39:19 Organizing Beyond Voting
41:24 Media Control And Nihilism
44:52 No Magic Answer
49:58 Ecosocialist Blueprint
52:34 Decommodify Essentials
54:29 MMT Meets Class Power
58:38 We Only Want Earth
01:00:20 Where To Find Ian
01:02:27 Support The Show
Weaponize Knowledge with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
Please help our Real Progressives efforts in spreading and become a monthly donor!
At PayPal
paypal.me/RealProgressives/25
At Patreon
patreon.com/realprogressives
Donorbox
donorbox.org/each-one-teach-one-3
Write for Real Progressives
realprogressives.org/submit-an-article
Visit our website:
realprogressives.org
Listen to our podcast:
realprogressives.org/macro-n-cheese-podcast
Subscribe to our Substack:
realprogressives.substack.com
We believe all materials used in this video fall under Fair Use as defined in Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
#mmt
Weaponize Knowledge with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
Please help our Real Progressives efforts in spreading and become a monthly donor!
At PayPal
paypal.me/RealProgressives/25
At Patreon
patreon.com/realprogressives
Write for Real Progressives
realprogressives.org/submit-an-article
Visit our website:
realprogressives.org
Listen to our podcast:
realprogressives.org/macro-n-cheese-podcast
We believe all materials used in this video fall under Fair Use as defined in Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
