Beyond his marquee campaign promises on affordability, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the movement behind him have the opportunity to expand popular participation in politics and push for reforms that democratize economic life.
Mayor Mamdani’s Year One Begins Now
Mayor Zohran Mamdani takes office in New York City today. The Left now has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a socialist movement that could stretch not only across the city and the country but the world.
Fallen Angels
Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa’s unsuccessful run for mayor of New York was a stark reminder of how much has changed in NYC since the dark days of the fiscal crisis — and how much remains the same.
The Unlovable Ping-Pong Wizard of Marty Supreme
Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme stars Timothée Chalamet as an obnoxious, nerdy young 1950s ping-pong hustler who somehow cons everyone around him. It’s flashy, fast, and made with so much talent it’s a shame they forgot to make much of a case for Marty’s appeal.
A Guide to the Big Left and Labor Fights in 2026
An essential part of ringing in the New Year will be preparing for the major political struggles of 2026. Here’s a month-by-month roundup of the key union fights, elections, and other events of note for the Left.
If Zohran Mamdani is serious about delivering on his promises, he needs more than policies — he needs institutions that empower working people. Popular assemblies offer a way to build a new, bottom-up political culture in New York City.
Books Jacobin Loved in 2025
This year was a depressing one for politics, but it produced books that were ambitious and serious attempts to understand the present. From novels about millennial ennui to sweeping histories of the West, 2025 had a lot to offer to readers.
Zohran Mamdani Wants You to Do More Than Survive
A democratic socialist will be inaugurated mayor tomorrow because he told New Yorkers they deserve it all — love, leisure, pleasure, sport.
Avatar: Fire and Ash Cannot Be Stopped — Don’t Even Try
Avatar: Fire and Ash is not a good movie. But with its massive box office success, Big Jim Cameron is undeniably giving the people what they want. And what they want is skimpily dressed giant blue aliens.
Zohran’s Millionaire Tax Will Raise Revenue
Worries about an exodus of millionaires from New York City are not supported by economics.
Neoliberalism didn’t win an intellectual argument — it won power. Vivek Chibber unpacks how employers and political elites in the 1970s and ’80s turned economic turmoil into an opportunity to reshape society on their terms.
Building Trades Unions Rally Against Trump’s Attacks on Wind
Construction unions are making clear that offshore wind is a win for workers and the environment. Donald Trump’s repeated attempts to block it are just another front in his war on workers.
For Nicolas Sarkozy, Far-Right Rule Is Tolerable
France’s former president Nicolas Sarkozy has called on his allies to stop demonizing Marine Le Pen. It’s part of a broader shift in establishment conservatism toward open collaboration with her far-right party.
When the Sewer Socialists Struggled for Racial Equality
Critics of the American sewer socialists often point to racist statements made by their leading light, Wisconsin’s Victor Berger. A close examination of his writings shows that those views changed dramatically over time.
Keeping Power Utilities in Corporate Hands Doesn’t Make Sense
A new study shows that socialist plans to take over the privately owned power utility in New York’s Hudson Valley would lower rates for users and improve its long-term health. Public ownership of power companies is better for everyone but the rich.