Last month, Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race in New York. In January, he will take office. This campaign opened up the imagination for progressives not only in New York but across the world.

In this episode, Sarah Shahid speaks with Emily Lemmerman, an organizer, member of the Democratic Socialists of America, and formerly the Communications Director in Zohran Mamdani’s State Assembly office. They discuss what opportunities and challenges a campaign like Mamdani’s provides for socialists interested in raising the confidence of the working class.

Further reading:

“Zohran Mamdani Is Winning the Battle. Here’s How He Can Win the War” by Eric Blanc, Emily Lemmerman, and Wen Zhuang

“What’s left of Canadian social democracy?” By David Bush

This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Sarah Shahid, Spencer Bridgman, and Josh Frame. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.

Mail deliveries in Canada have been disrupted after postal workers across the country walked off the job. The strike comes after the Canadian government authorized widespread reforms to Canada Post that would shut post offices and end door-to-door deliveries for millions of people. The government intends to replace postal workers with community mailboxes, speed up deliveries using subcontracted gig labour, and quietly hand over profitable routes to private couriers.

Far more than a fight for improved wages and improved working conditions, the strike is about the rights of Canadians to good public services, and about resisting the destruction of good unionized jobs through privatization. This strike comes alongside other action across Canada to fight increasing privatization of public services.

To discuss all of this, the CUPW strike, the fight to protect public services and public service workers, and what is at stake if we lose Canada Post, Spring member Hiva sat down in Hamilton with CUPW members Dawnie, Kevin, and Karl.

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to discuss these ideas in person, as well as learn new ones and connect with other socialists from across Canada, please join us at the TMU student centre in Toronto from the 24th to 26th of October for Spring's annual Red October conference.

Red October is a whole weekend of socialist ideas and strategy, with more than 25 sessions spread over six courses. Click this link to get your tickets - redoctober.ca

This podcast was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Carlie Macfie, Hiva Nematollahi and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.

Mark Carney’s recent commitment to increase Canada’s military spending to 5% of the country’s GDP by 2036 is the most ambitious investment into national defence in Canada’s history since the Second World War. It comes hand-in-hand with his announcement to cut federal spending by 7.5% by next year.

In today’s episode, Spring members Samuel Tetelepta and Alex Hunsberger unpack why Canada and countries across the world are pivoting to an arms economy and how that ultimately goes against the interest of the working class.

Please consider donating to Spring Magazine’s annual fund drive at https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2025-fund-drive. This money supports the production of more episodes like this and the overall activity of Spring magazine.

If you want to check out Spring Radio’s series on Pierre Poillievre:

• Part 1 - Justinflation feat. Pam Frache: https://open.spotify.com/episode/70FWaAGyiO0nJxC3mcuKZ5?si=8d7ac2a942d14925
• Part 2 - Housing feat. Ricardo Tranjan: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zP3h9aMG5yq6MuEAgqJKn?si=20e5f290e3374526
• Part 3 - Immigration feat. Harshill and Vedanth: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1GPcsjWgodzi3yoMYwjAmr?si=90a213525595450b
• Part 4 - Federal Election Debrief: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3bOxf7fBgyGh9hmBJy8uOG?si=29ff9f188c474738

This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Meaghan Boisjoli, Sarah Shahid, and Josh Frame. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.