Workers Are Standing Up to Far-Right Violence
In industries across the economy — from airlines to tech — the past two weeks have seen workers and their unions take the lead in combating Donald Trump’s far-right base.
19385 Articles by: Adrien Beauduin
Adrien Beauduin is currently researching a PhD on Polish and Czech politics at the Central European University’s department of gender studies.
Belle and Sebastian Makes Us Feel Exactly as We Are, Together
Go ahead, put on some of Belle and Sebastian’s “sad-bastard” music. It won’t cure all that ails you, but you might feel a little less alone — and a little more solidarity with everyone out there who’s suffering alongside you.
Here Are 4 Better Responses to the Capitol Riot Than Expanding “Domestic Terror” Crackdowns
A massive law enforcement failure led to last week’s disastrous Capitol riot. Now, many, including liberals, are pushing to give those agencies even more power as part of a “domestic terrorism” crackdown. This is the wrong way to combat the threat of far-right violence — we should start instead with an investigation of white supremacist infiltration of local police forces.
Bernie’s Plan to Give Everyone Health Care During the Pandemic Could Transform Our Health System
Bernie Sanders’s proposal to create a national emergency health insurance plan could have a transformative effect on the national health care debate, long after the COVID pandemic is over. But that plan, along with any other progressive policies, will be rendered moot if Joe Biden sticks to his insistence on seeking Republican support in Congress.
We Must Get COVID-19 Vaccines to Prisoners Immediately
People behind bars have suffered enormously during the pandemic, with COVID-19 ripping through prisons. There’s no justification for not giving prisoners the vaccine immediately — both for their sake and for the broader society.
New York Is Weighing Divestment From the Capitol Riot’s GOP Enablers
New York legislators are requesting a review of pension investments flowing to Wall Street firms whose executives funded groups that boosted the Republicans who tried to overturn the election.
Scrap Our Means-Tested Child Welfare System and Give Every Family $374 Per Child Every Month
Our child benefit system is bizarre and overcomplicated, Matt Bruenig argues. The US government should eliminate the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Additional Child Tax Credit — and replace those programs with a $374 check sent out to every family every month for every child they are taking care of.
Joe Biden Is Yet Again Trying to Woo the GOP. He Should Give It Up.
According to recent reporting, Joe Biden wants to strike a deal with Republicans on a new round of COVID-19 relief, rather than ramming through a package without their support. After everything that has happened in recent weeks and years with the GOP, how is Biden still naive enough to think he can strike a deal with them?
Trump Is a Threat to Democracy. But That Doesn’t Mean He’s Winning.
The violent attempt to stop the certification of the electoral vote shouldn’t be ignored. But fascism isn’t on the brink in America. Pretending we’re on the precipice of losing our democracy plays into the hands of those who want to give new, repressive powers to the security state.
The Marxism of Leo Panitch
Leo Panitch emphasized three core themes throughout his career: the process of class formation, the key role of political parties in facilitating this process, and the need to transform the state instead of wielding it in its current form. In doing so, he gave the democratic-socialist movement an invaluable trove of resources to change the world with.
AOC Will Not Be Cowed by the Right
Last week’s attack on the Capitol put Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other left lawmakers in great danger. But instead of cowering in fear, she delivered a defiant speech on Tuesday — and laid out an alternative vision rooted in solidarity and improving the lives of millions of workers.
Indonesia’s Repression Hasn’t Broken the West Papuan Freedom Struggle
Since 1963, the Indonesian state has occupied West Papua against the will of its people with the full backing of Australia and the US. Despite decades of brutal repression, Papuans are still rising up to demand their national liberation, at home, in Indonesia and internationally.
Throw the Book at Rick Snyder for Poisoning Flint’s Water
Former Michigan governor Rick Snyder suspended democracy for the majority of the state’s black residents, then oversaw Flint residents’ poisoning in the city’s ongoing water crisis. As of today, he’s facing well-deserved criminal neglect charges.
Big Pharma Is Fighting to Deny Canadians Access to Treatment
The vast majority of Canadians want a national pharmacare program, but right-wing think tanks and corporate lobbyists are battling to obstruct it. It’s time to stand up to their bullying and implement universal pharmacare so everyone can get the treatment they need.
The Public Should Regulate Silicon Valley — Not the Other Way Around
Twitter profited from Donald Trump’s racist outbursts for years, only to delete his account a few days before his departure. A figure with such media platform runs no risk of being “no platformed” — but tech giants still have too much power over what the rest of us say.
The Giant Corporate Giant Slush Fund Bankrolling the Extremist GOP
Corporations are being lauded for halting PAC donations to the Republicans after the Capitol riot — but they are not shutting down the $500 million pool of cash that bankrolled authoritarian extremists.
The Trading App Robinhood Takes From You and Gives to the Rich
The start-up trading app Robinhood invoked Occupy as it promised to fix a “rigged” financial system. But the firm now faces class action lawsuits for scamming its millions of novice customers — showing that “democratizing” finance is just a way of finding more people to prey on.
We Can’t Fight the Far Right in Military Court
In the wake of last week’s attack on the Capitol, some are calling for the Armed Forces to prosecute pro-Trump rioters in military court. But relying on military courts won’t shore up American democracy — it will empower a punitive judicial system that is used to quash dissent within the ranks.
Unionizing Google Workers: We Want Democracy at Work
Last week, Google workers announced the formation of the Alphabet Workers Union, a groundbreaking step in organizing tech workers at one of the world’s largest tech giants. We spoke to two of the union’s rank-and-file members about the organizing effort, how unions can fight for democracy on the job, and why blue- and white-collar workers need to organize together.
Why Matteo Renzi Is Sinking Italy’s Government Even as the Pandemic Rages
Matteo Renzi’s move to split Italy’s center-left government is a distraction from its COVID-19 response — and could even force Italians back to the polls. But what’s really at stake is the shape of its post-crisis recovery, as neoliberal technocrats again threaten to return to office.