The Deprogram Episode 27: When Life Gives You Yemen, Give Yemen Aid

A big brain lecture on Yemen by Hakim-san. Let's try to actually learn something about one of the arguably most forgotten parts of the world, at least in the "west". We dive into Yemen's history, culture, and unfortunately, the war that's been raging there for far too long.
The next episode, Episode 28: Orientalism, Cultural Imperialism and Nic Cage is available 1 full week early on Patreon: / thedeprogram
Bonus Episode 5: The Deprogram Would Like To Add You on Linkedin is also available exclusively on Patreon.
Support the show, get bonus episodes, early releases, discord access and a lot more + help us keep telling sponsors to f*ck off by donating: / thedeprogram

[@MisterSpacemonaut]

The 3 Rules of The Deprogram: 1. Hakim argues with an imaginary liberal/reactionary 2. Yugopnik writes a mini-screenplay, complete with camera queues and orientalism 3. J.T. looks back at his life in silence, wondering how he got here

[@peenus5120]

4. Hakim uses a widely known american idiom in its correct context and then acts like he's never even heard of it.

[@RedScareClair]

@@peenus5120 to be fair he does screw them up from time to time 🤣

[@fun_ghoul]

@@RedScareClair So do unilingual, lifelong, "educated" Anglophones from English-speaking countries. I know you're not shitting on H, I just wanted to point that out. ✊

[@fun_ghoul]

@@RedScareClair Erratum: "Unilingual" probably doesn't matter, or if it does, maybe it's a negative.

[@ΒασίληςΒλάχος-τ3κ]

1 is the leftist equivalent of ribelars arguing with an imaginary socialist saying:Well the Ussr wasn't REAL socialism

[@dradenlol8667]

Also, on the topic of women, when I started dating my girlfriend she was a closeted leftist. Over the past year and a half I’ve gradually radicalized myself and come to find out she’s been a revolutionary socialist this whole time :D

[@RoboAstronautCat]

Hey, good on your girlfriend for radicalizing you

[@dradenlol8667]

For legal clarification for any government folk reading, we’re revolutionary in our beliefs :) we ain’t see potential for any violence to be successful for at least a few centuries

[@realcanadiensneverdie]

@@dradenlol8667 its funnier when the government reads it

[@SocialistTokes]

The sex is on fiiiiiire

[@samsadowitz1724]

@@dradenlol8667 that hasn't stopped the feds from investigating JT

[@cstick2664]

he reads he organizes but most importantly he deprogram

[@adrii7186]

Here before t(he)y change the title.

[@Tetragrammaton22]

"I fuck you not" I feel like only Yugopnik would come up with this twist on an old saying.

[@Tumatutuma]

Hakim's recommended literature on Yemen: 1) Yemen Divided: The Story of a Failed State in South Arabia by Noel Brehony 2) Yemen in Crisis: Road to War: Lackner by Helen Lackner 3) Yemen Endures: Civil War, Saudi Adventurism and the Future of Arabia Ginny Hill 4) Tribes and Politics in Yemen: A History of the Houthi Conflict by Marieke Brandt

[@Rald623S]

Thanks! Forgot to write it down so this really help

[@Tumatutuma]

@@Rald623S Glad to help.

[@helenahrebeljanoviccipras]

it was nice learning all this stuff about yemen damn hakim is like an encyclopedia

[@fun_ghoul]

That's a real "Balkan Odyssey" name right there! ☺

[@helenahrebeljanoviccipras]

@@fun_ghoul i don't understand this attempt at insult explain euro boy

[@ericcarabetta1161]

I appreciate hearing people from other countries making fun of America. It's nice hearing an outside perspective on what some of the most obnoxious aspects of American culture and imperialism are. I know what sucks as someone who lives here, but I always find it very interesting what everybody else in the world sees.

[@fun_ghoul]

If you're ballsy, you can probably hear these opinions in your neighbourhood if you solicit them carefully...

[@Buddhistsocialist]

Very glad to see hakim guest starring.

[@romanlyubimov9490]

Wow, an introduction to political landscape of the middle East from someone who lives there and is not on a BBC or Al'jazeera payroll. Would be wonderful to have more of this kind of content.

[@TheDoubleBee]

I very much like JT appearing on camera. Makes his videos way more personable. Now if we can get all three of you on camera for The Deprogram Live, that'd be friggin great.

[@vineformvideos5719]

Sadly for some, hiding behind their social media aliases is for their safety in very unstable parts of the world.

[@fun_ghoul]

You both make good points.

[@nusquamnemo4780]

Uncle Sam would probably drone bomb Hakim

[@Ajente02]

1:13:12 I just love these kind of derailments on Yugopnik's part everytime, when he goes half the 'BadEmpanadaist' Marxist kind of troll he is, and half the marketing expert he is. By the way, I really liked the more "lecture" type of episode, though I'd still love to see more guest episodes and more normal open discussions. In order to avoid future "lecture" episodes being monopolized by the amazing didactic power of Hakim, I'd recommend to make them shift between yourselves by turns (this was Hakim's lecture, next one could be JT's, and after him Yugo's). Great work as always, and support to all Yemenis.

[@michaszkot4419]

BTW, German "unification" is literally an example of an annexation in the political sciences.

[@blede8649]

The German case is more of a unification, though, they just transferred military and diplomatic matters to Prussia, keeping everything else to the old states. The Italian "unification", on the other hand, was a straight-up, openly acknowledged annexation, complete with a guerrilla war and a harsh military crackdown in the newly "liberated" territories in the south of the country.

[@michaszkot4419]

@@blede8649 Sorry, a bit of misunderstanding - I meant the 1990 one. I completely agree about the ones you presented. A good lesson to articulate my thoughts more precisely :)

[@fun_ghoul]

@@blede8649 Confusion on Michał's OP aside, I love your comment too.

[@fun_ghoul]

@British Empire gaming Comment and username 》》 》》 》》 》》 》》 100% match

[@popcornfourdinner]

Listening to hakim talking for 90 minutes plus is always good

[@chris-jl1nn]

per your advice, I went to look for a Yemeni restaurant here in Columbus. the closest one is literally called "Yemeni Restaurant".

[@ericktellez7632]

Straight to the point

[@fun_ghoul]

Too bad Columbus wasn't named something straightforward like "Stolen Land", but then what would you name the other 500,000 inhabited places on this supercontinent?

[@emmasilver2332]

Hakim: god of history, medicine, and making me laugh. Is there anything you can't do?

[@brunoactis1104]

Drink

[@jokerwick]

Very good episode. I've found it particularly difficult to understand the situation in Yemen through English sources so far, even compared to the likes of the Syrian and Libyan conflicts

[@fun_ghoul]

Off-topic: Nice username ✊

[@TheMosayat]

only recently started watching the deprogram and hearing the following: "you've been married for a while now" "yeah 7 years" "ما شاء الله" bro that gave me life, I swear. and that was just the start! thank you for representing XD

[@poidpd]

anjad, seeing a muslim / 3rabi person talking about socialism feels weird bc most of my family and friends are so distanced from any politics

[@dradenlol8667]

JT your videos on camera have been great :) (bisexual lighting included). If you’re looking for further topics to cover, I think it might be interesting to do a breakdown of the origins of the bourgeoisie. Something I have not really seen made clear is a timeline of their rise, atrocities, and eventual implementation of neoliberalism.

[@marxist_egg]

It's always good to get home to a nice, hot cup of The Deprogram on a Friday afternoon.

[@comrade-princesscelestia4907]

you mean 'he deprogram', right comrade?

[@RoboAstronautCat]

Completely agree

[@fun_ghoul]

@@comrade-princesscelestia4907 Yes. He deprogram you. You welcome. Wassamattafayou?

[@monochromeboy]

Commenting for the Algorithm. Glad to have caught this podcast early for once. Thanks for the podcast, comrades.

[@alexisgarcia1344]

Thank you for this information about Yemen. The narrative is refreshing to hear from people of the culture, which is extremely rare in the west. I enjoyed it. Thank you for the resources! I will look into them. I considered doing an intensive language course well before the Arab Spring in Yemen. Thank you again Hakem.

[@HaloJumper7]

I've had a discussion with Brandt as she was asking for my perspective as a Yemeni. I'll give this podcast a listen and see what Hakim has to say.

[@KidAlex]

In future Episode. Can Yugopnik talk about Yugoslavia, compare it back in the days to nowadays.

[@proximamidnight1581]

That would be great. Spoiler: it was better even with all it's flaws.

[@fun_ghoul]

You comrades already following Balkan Odyssey (channel)? Content is maybe right up your alley...

[@florafox3414]

Im a full blown communist, I have no issues letting people know. I think we all should normalize being open communists especially in the west. My husband isn't a fully commie BUT if he read the theory he would be lol, most people want what we want these days, I dont think they know it.

[@ბედნიერიგობლინი]

good for you man

[@sleepyhead8681]

In conservitive states in the USA they will think your A Democrat.

[@CraigKeidel]

Ah you also have the lefty partner that hasn't gotten angry enough at capitalism to admit their socialism to themselves yet?

[@frankr.7393]

Yugoonik owning Bakunin memorabilia is the most beautiful thing I've heard so far XD You handsome lunatics ❤

[@jasonackerman9065]

Honestly, this was my favorite episode of The Deprogram thus far because I learned the most from it. It had just the right balance of lecture, jokes and shit talking. Please keep this format up!

[@fun_ghoul]

The only reference I know to "pig dogs" is the Germans, who have the excellent word _schweinhund_ (literally "pig-dog"). _"You know the Germans always make good stuff!"_ -ShamWow guy

[@redlion45]

Monty Python too. They used the word.

[@monika.alt197]

Can we get an image of Yugo’s room? The decorations they mention seem like would make a room awesome.

[@fun_ghoul]

Fuck an image. Yugo needs to make a channel for interior decorating for proletarians.

[@SkillBlade]

bruh the punny title, love it also: he

[@reversedragon3]

before I even listen to this I just have to say, this title is one of the best puns and I completely cracked up when I saw it

[@fun_ghoul]

JT is the show's straight man. I mean that in whichever way it struck you.

[@thegentlelaborer8899]

15:06 - Basic info on Yemen 31:29 38:22 53:24 1:10:45 - Book recommendations on Yemen: •Yemen Divided: The Story of a Failed State in South Arabia by Noel Brehony •Yemen in Crisis: The Road to War •Yemen Endures Civil War: Saudi Adventurism and Future of Arabia by Ginny Hill •Tribes and Politics in Yemen: A History of the Houthi Conflict by Marieke Brandt

[@mqwmrouge]

Very nice episode, glad to see brother Hakim explaining the situation of Yemen. It'd be amazing if you could do an episode about religion and marxism (particularly Islam cause I've seen/read more about Christianism).

[@JoetheDilo1917]

31:53 "pig-dog" probably comes from the German "schweinhund" a combination of "pig" and "dog" which is used in the same connotations as "bastard"

[@fun_ghoul]

52:30 Perfect storm (alternately, convergence)...but "chili mix" fucked me up enough that I had to rewind! Love ya, H. ✊

[@silashellebrand462]

51:36 I had to take a break from listening, because Hakim would get into some serious stuff, but I kept laughing every time I remembered Yugopnik chanting "Ronald Akbar!"

[@andrewmurray5789]

Now we'll never get a Yugo or Hakim face reveal. How are they going to compete with the Chad that is JT?

[@craggsalistair]

best deprogram episode title ive ever seen

[@qaphqa]

This was my favourite episode so far; well done!

[@sinpi314]

We need more lecture type deprogramming. Next Yugopnik should talk about Yugoslavia and JT should talk about the labour movements in the states.

[@siukei]

@31:51 regarding the "pig dogs" comments; there's an old chinese derogatory idiom 「豬狗不如」 which translates to someone being "inferior to pigs and/or dogs"; the first two characters are 'pig' & 'dog'

[@fun_ghoul]

You have it all wrong, Hakim. Arby's has the sandwiches piled high with juicy, slow-cooked, thinly-sliced -retired race horse- "aged beef". Also, curly fries! EDIT: Thus, "Horsey Sauce"!

[@comradeinternet467]

JT's avatar in the image used for these uploads needs to have the logo on the shirt updated.

[@dragoonprime9829]

This was a great learning experience for me. I had 0 understanding of yemen situation. I like this format of discussion

[@TheLazy150]

he do be deprogramming

[@Basti557]

Im from Germany and ive never heard about that all the while Ukraine is reported about every hour

[@angryyordle4640]

Travelling to Socotra is one of the things I definitely wanna do sometime in my life. Once I have the money and there's a little less piracy. If you love nature Socotra is right for you, it's just incredibly difficult to get there, as you have to travel through Somalia or Yemen.

[@ryanatkinson2978]

Thank you for this!

[@thesunthatneversets4579]

Let's gooo boys

[@heelmuut7541]

Søren Mau - Mute compulsion is an interesting book about economic power in capitalism, I am not sure if I quite understand it but it may be interesting for you guys. There is an interview from 99 zu 1 to dip your toes in. Just a suggestion

[@emmasilver2332]

I just got your pun in the title

[@zerogravityhead1]

The situation in Yemen is unconscionable, all the other Americans I talk about it don't really register the situation. It's just "we can't do anything about it, so well just vote blue for better domestic issues ect" it's terrifying to know how easily these Washington parasites can kills thousands and leave with clean hands. I hope God can deliver his loving but righteous judgment in humanities absence.

[@thescousecleaner]

I fucking hate this podcast. Now I have to explain to my girlfriend why a Slav yelling "Ronald Akbar" is funny

[@katyjames901]

I think it would have been great if u talked about Sudanese involvement in this war,but I enjoyed this episode soo much(second time listening)keep it up

[@tankpiggy]

Very informative episode

[@deathinabox6878]

"he Deprogram Episode 27" 🤣

[@besusbb]

Yes, "he" do be deprogramming edit: they fixed title :(

[@paranoah1925]

Guys, please get a guest from India to talk about socialism and communism in India. Indian politics is very interesting and even the most right wing governments have to introduce or continue welfare schemes for the poor. India has the world 'Socialist' in the preamble to the constitution and communism was doing well in pockets till not too long back. But the current fascist government is running very successful propaganda to demonize leftists. There is a new political party in power in a couple of states that is very socialist in its actions (like drastically improving quality of public schools and hospitals and strengthening public utilities while making them cheaper) but completely steers clear of the word 'socialist' because it wouldn't be taken well. Maybe you can have someone analyse the massive protests that happened in India in the last few years (protests against farm law changes and CAA/NRC) and all the different ways the fascist government has been trying to silence dissent and protests

[@ბედნიერიგობლინი]

im intrasted in indian politics my friend what ar your thots on maoist rebals duing peuples war in india ?

[@fun_ghoul]

I agree that India is too big and too socialist-leaning (READ: poor) to not be covered. That said, India really is *BIG,* so...maybe an overview followed by some regional breakdowns?

[@paranoah1925]

@@ბედნიერიგობლინი It is a very complicated and nuanced issue to explain in a youtube comment. That is why we need someone who has followed it for years to explain the nuances. Most of the mainstream perspective in India is that of the privileged upper castes and a little bit from the perspective of some leftist intellectuals. There are very few voices presenting their own perspectives

[@paranoah1925]

@@fun_ghoul Exactly! A few regions to cover would be the communist state of Kerala with its high social development indicators and the forested lands of the east that tribals are trying to protect from 'development'. The kind of development that will make it impossible for them to live off the land and will force them to become poor daily wagers in cities where they can barely feed themselves. I am talking out of my ass here, but i would imagine that India has the largest oppressed worker class in the world and also a crazy number of seasonal migrants that alternate between agricultural labour in rural areas and construction work in the the cities. In India we have exploitation based on pretty much everything- class, religion, caste, gender. An example of a topic to cover on this would be female workers in the sugarcane industy getting operations to remove their wombs

[@MarxistLeninists]

I know of a comrade called Saheli from Orinoco tribune, as as well Dialectics Unhinged and Ramiro Sebastian Funez. It would be awesome to see such connections be made

[@Prometheusforliberty]

listening to this in 2023 while Israel is doing its thing is wild. Great deep dive.

[@souplike.homogenate]

Under socialism, we will make Arby's do nuggets. Roast beef nuggets.

[@AlbinoBanana2]

Let's goo

[@rug052]

God dammit hakim you almost made me snort a booger into my breakfast I'm making

[@acanadianknight7269]

Best fucking title ever

[@fun_ghoul]

Change it back. he Deprogram!

[@fun_ghoul]

No hate Hakim, but coffee originates in Ethiopia -- not so far from Yemen on the map, you may know -- and has been made there since before the time of Muhammad. Check out their traditional coffee ceremony: They don't fuck around!

[@ouardi9900]

The plant originates in Ethiopia. Coffee as in the drink originates in Yemen. So-unless u go around calling ur morning coffee "coffee drink" then it originates in Yemen. Also the cultivation of the wild bean happened in southern Arabia.

[@fun_ghoul]

@@ouardi9900 Thank you, Wikipedia regurgitator!

[@LeoiCaangWan]

Yooo, love the Frankie Boyle joke as the title XD

[@lulianjuliuswassbach]

I'm from East Germany (from a poor and racist part) and like, in the media (that's mostly comtrolled by west Germans) they paint this picture of the GDR as this kind of surveillance state hell on earth, but like when you talk to actual people, a lot them think that while the gdr had it's faults, it's a good country.

[@thisislesbomaya]

he deprogram

[@ბედნიერიგობლინი]

i asume you a anarchist from you profile pic lol love you comrade

[@gabipo6985]

that vid was good is better for engament

[@derkeks5367]

engagement engagement ahhhhhh

[@fun_ghoul]

1:15:33 Do it, bud. No backin' out now!

[@petrosstefanidis6396]

National Liberation Front. We literally had the same in Greece during the Nazi occupation, Εθνικό Απελευθερωτικό Μέτωπο or ΕΑΜ.

[@gabipo6985]

hello comarades

[@ბედნიერიგობლინი]

zdrastviwe tavakish

[@ericktellez7632]

he.

[@lanrozman6423]

Im not making any more reddit accounts so you guys better start joining now!

[@PrettyH8Mach1n3]

Ah good; the title is fixed.

[@poly8863]

He.

[@fun_ghoul]

Да!

[@mrpieceofwork]

How does Hakim drink so much and not have to get up to pee? jfc man

[@despa7726]

From the RKU (Revolutionary Communist Youth, Swedish communist youth league to the Communist Party) public news magasine Rebell, translated to English here by me: "Yemen The UN constantly described Yemen as the world's worst humanitary catastrophe. With a population of 30 million, where more than 20 million are in need of humanitary aid. Of those, over half (12,9 million) are children. _The hunger and starvation is widespread..._ 17 million in need of food 1.3 million undernourished pregnant and breastfeeding 250 000 dead Yemenis since 2015 (Source: Proletären, Communist Party public newspaper) 2 million undernourished children 7 million starving All of this is because of the Saudi Arabian-Coalition's war and blockade The coalition includes, among others, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. They have support from the USA, but also France and Great Britain. The Swedish weapon export increased 2020 to 16.3 billion SEK. 20% of the total weapon export went to the coalition. The largest purchaser of Swedish weapons 2020 was the United Arab Emirates. They bought weapons for 3.3 billion SEK. The export to countries that are warring in Yemen was doubled 2020."

[@andren55]

Hakim, can you please recommend an Arabic communist podcast?

[@helenahrebeljanoviccipras]

you swallowed the T in the episode title fix it so it's perfect like the podcast thank you

[@mauricio4619]

It's me, I am a JT simp

[@LogOut4Me._.]

This is strange that communists don't say that they're communists. If we don't normalize it then who will? How will it be popularized?

[@samrowe8752]

Umm, I hope it wasn't a joke, I'd love a Marxist analysis of Trailer Park boys hahahahaha!

[@Yatagurusu]

Its upsetting how the USSR and Chinas idea to dereligify regions under socialism alienated basically the entire middle east, africa, and south asia. Maybe even restricted its growth in south america and south east asia too. Had this not happened one wonders if key future players like egypt, iraq, yemen and India wouldnt have wholly gone over to the soviet block rather than teetering on the fence.

[@cymrawd_foulkesie]

Draw a little mustache on Mussolini and rub the one off of Hitler

[@MarxistLeninists]

So go on home British soldiers go on home 😎

[@fun_ghoul]

30:40 💀💀💀

[@senzusensei]

Coffee actually originated in Ethiopia not Yemen. Coffee was big and influential in the Middle East though not denying that fact.

[@ashfifidontcare4064]

I’m very confused. Yemen is an important topic but what about Palestinians and the news journalists who was just shot and killed ?

[@CraigKeidel]

"And you're probably asking, 'why would the UAE back them?' Because capitalism" Why even ask at this point?

[@oort2108]

Long live Yemen, the only country directly trying to stop Israel

[@israaalkatip9881]

Please do recommend arabic sources when you can :)

[@TheShubLub]

11:50 is this the intro??

[@nuklearboysymbiote]

Yes they usually dont ramble as much before the proper intro, this episode had a particularly long pre-session

[@notyouraverageaustrian]

he

[@mememejst]

bump

[@fun_ghoul]

Make ya speakers pop!

[@mrs_trains_6213]

ah yes, "he program"

[@fun_ghoul]

Is four jobs supposed to be too few, or too many? 🤔

[@colonel__klink7548]

Tbh you making fun of american chicken nuggets and other cultural things is how folks get comfortable with each other and you form bonds of kinship. The comments that always makes me grind my teeth is when you moan about american medias racist (out of ignorance) portrayals of west asia and then you go on to spew crap about how hyper competitive americans are. Ive never known a single person like that. Ive never known a single person who pushed for a promotion at work because they were jealous of their neighbors car. I never knew a single person who felt "screw ted, i need to up my game so i get all the promotions / business from him. This isnt even a all my friends were from poorer families thing. My aunt was a senior exec with at&t who married a former ceo of sears. I know people who got to the very top and even they arent that sort of toxic competition mind. Which is crazy because you would expect them to at least be the "i cant let my neighor have a bigger house than me" people. They are more like "i didnt know my fridge was the biggest on the market till i saw the repair bill when it broke and i fainted" people. What you're in fact expressing is racist stereotypes of americans and using them as an actual argumentative basis while moaning that american media is racist toward non whites. Whats infuriating for me is that this racism is holding you back argumentatively. The way you describe our culture is like a cartoon. Hr will CRUCIFY leaders in companies that act like tyrants that yell and scream. My aunt once told me that im not the right temperment to climb like her (trying actually to be helpful and not insulting. ) im not the sort of person who isnt afriad of confrontation so i can stand up for my team and build a cohesive structure where everyone feels like they are in it together. Those are the most successful teams. I see my husband another leader do that. The actual culture of people who rise is differnt than you characterize. They still are the sort of people who dont shy away from conflict but thats what a leader is for. If you actually parsed this youd have a better argument. "See even us corporate executives agree the socialist way of team building and comrodery is the way to better productivity."

[@colonel__klink7548]

Fascinating us political side note. Rich or poor people living in wealth homogenous neighborhoods are likely to vote for very conservative (no wealth redistribution) policies whereas people like my aunt, former senior executive paid a small fortune living in heterogenous communities tend to vote for wealth redistribution policies. Again, not stereotyping americans gives you good arguments. "Even America's wealthy people when confronted with poverty in their neighborhood want to address it."

[@himurahaibara1459]

Listening to this and then compare it to what's usually heard from people like Sam Harris who reduces every conflict or movement in Middle East as something motivated by religion fanaticism, it's always the lazy takes that gets pushed to be mainstream

[@Blessed_V0id]

You guys need a token European comrade just sayin wink wink