Podcast / American Prestige / Aug 12, 2026

The History of the Jewish Bund—With Molly Crabapple

Molly Crabapple joins Danny and Derek to explore the history of the Jewish Labor Bund, its battles with Zionism and Bolshevism, and its legacy for the Jewish left.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

The History of the Jewish Bund w/ Molly Crabapple / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek speak with artist and writer Molly Crabapple about her book on the history of the Jewish Labor Bund, Here Where We Live Is Our Country. They discuss Molly's personal connection to the story, the Pale of Settlement and Jewish emancipation, the founding of the Bund in 1897, the Bund's armed self-defense against pogroms, its fraught relationship with Lenin and the Bolsheviks, the Bund's rivalry with Zionism, the flourishing of Bundist culture in interwar Poland, and the lessons of the Bund’s story for the Jewish left today.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

March of the Jewish socialist organization ‘Bund’ on May Day, 1930, in Poland.

(Ullstein Bild via Getty Images)

Danny and Derek speak with artist and writer Molly Crabapple about her book on the history of the Jewish Labor Bund, Here Where We Live Is Our Country. They discuss Molly’s personal connection to the story, the Pale of Settlement and Jewish emancipation, the founding of the Bund in 1897, the Bund’s armed self-defense against pogroms, its fraught relationship with Lenin and the Bolsheviks, the Bund’s rivalry with Zionism, the flourishing of Bundist culture in interwar Poland, and the lessons of the Bund’s story for the Jewish left today.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/subscribe.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

The History of the Jewish Bund w/ Molly Crabapple / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek speak with artist and writer Molly Crabapple about her book on the history of the Jewish Labor Bund, Here Where We Live Is Our Country. They discuss Molly's personal connection to the story, the Pale of Settlement and Jewish emancipation, the founding of the Bund in 1897, the Bund's armed self-defense against pogroms, its fraught relationship with Lenin and the Bolsheviks, the Bund's rivalry with Zionism, the flourishing of Bundist culture in interwar Poland, and the lessons of the Bund’s story for the Jewish left today.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Daniel Bessner

Daniel Bessner is a historian of US foreign relations and is the author of, among other books, Imperialist Realism.

Derek Davison

Derek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.

More from The Nation

Howard Zinn prior to a press conference at Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston on January 9, 2008.

Election Protection: The ACLU’s $25M Project—Plus, Howard Zinn’s Life and Work Election Protection: The ACLU’s $25M Project—Plus, Howard Zinn’s Life and Work

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Deirdre Schifeling of the ACLU explains their plans to protect voting in November, and Dave Zirin talks about A People’s History of the...

Jon Wiener

Enes Kanter of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Miami Heat on October 15, 2021, in Miami, Florida.

Anti-Trans Bigots Try to Divide/Destroy WNBA Anti-Trans Bigots Try to Divide/Destroy WNBA

Frankie de la Cretaz joins Edge of Sports to talk about what’s happening in the WNBA right now.

Chud of the Rings—With Bret Devereaux

Chud of the Rings—With Bret Devereaux Chud of the Rings—With Bret Devereaux

Historian Bret Devereaux joins Fighting Fascism to examine how the far right distorts history, Western civilization, and Tolkien—and how those narratives can be challenged.

Tobias Lutke, cofounder and chief executive officer of Shopify, speaks during the Toronto Tech Week 2026.

Shopify’s Leaders Are Pushing Right-Wing Politics in Canada—With Rachel Gilmore Shopify’s Leaders Are Pushing Right-Wing Politics in Canada—With Rachel Gilmore

Paris Marx talks to Rachel Gilmore about how Canadian tech companies like Shopify are pushing terrible right-wing policy ideas while influencing Mark Carney’s agenda.

Paris Marx

Democratic candidate for US Senate Abdul El-Sayed speaks to supporters at an election-night rally on August 4, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.

How Abdul El-Sayed Can Win Michigan, Plus an Election Protection Test Case How Abdul El-Sayed Can Win Michigan, Plus an Election Protection Test Case

The Michigan Democratic Senate primary provided a test of the power of AIPAC and big money. John Nichols has our analysis.

Jon Wiener

The sun sets behind American flags on July 27, 2026, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Imperialist Realism—With Danny Bessner Imperialist Realism—With Danny Bessner

Danny Bessner joins Derek to discuss his new book, "Imperialist Realism", and how American empire shapes both US foreign policy and popular culture.

Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner

x