Podcast / Edge of Sports / Mar 16, 2026

In Conversation: The Battle of Algiers and Gung Ho

In Conversation: “The Battle of Algiers” and “Gung Ho”

Arya Shirazi joins Edge of Sports to discuss two films about revolution and resistance.

Edge of Sports

Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

2026 marks the 60th anniversary of Gilles Pontecorvo’s classic film “The Battle of Algiers” and the 40th anniversary of Ron Howard’s flop Gung Ho. Yet both films aim to tell a story about capitalism, the working class and what comprises resistance in a certain time and place. I’m joined by film savant Arya Shirazi in breaking down these two films

Zirin, The Bombing of Iran’s Azadi Stadium Is Straight Out of Israel’s Gaza Script

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/us-hockey-olympics-gold-trump/

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n Conversation: The Battle of Algiers and Gung Ho.

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A scene from "The Battle of Algiers." — A scene from “The Battle of Algiers.”
(YouTube)

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Gilles Pontecorvo’s classic film The Battle of Algiers and the 40th anniversary of Ron Howard’s flop Gung Ho. Both films aim to tell a story about capitalism, the working class, and what comprises resistance in a certain time and place. I’m joined by film savant Arya Shirazi in breaking down these two films.

My latest column: “The Bombing of Iran’s Azadi Stadium Is Straight Out of Israel’s Gaza Script”

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

Edge of Sports

Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

This week we speak to Frankie de la Cretaz of the indispensable website “Out of Your League,” which looks at the intersection of sports and gender, about Sophia Cunningham, ugly transphobia, and why the WNBA is tolerating hate rallies at their games.

Also, I have Choice Words about lessons from the life of Howard Zinn

Zirin, Liberals Are Shaming Howard Zinn’s Memory Yet Again

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/howard-zinn-red-scare-american-veterans/

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

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

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Dave Zirin

Dave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is the author of a new book, The People's Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn.

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