The Joyous Blast of Pee-wee Herman Will Be Deeply Missed
Paul Reubens and his brilliant character Pee-wee Herman offered viewers a kind of weird, joyful, hilarious television and film that we aren’t lucky enough to get very often.
21013 Article(s) by: Alex Press
The Fossil Fuel Industry Is Paying the GOP Handsomely to Deny Climate Change
Republican super PACs in the House and Senate raked in major donations from the fossil fuel industry this year. Proving to be money well spent, GOP lawmakers are ramping up a campaign of outright climate denial.
Where Did the Bullshit Jobs Go?
Capitalism may not be producing “bullshit jobs” in the way David Graeber argued. But our working lives are indeed full of bullshit: marked by the petty despotism of the boss and directed to ends no one would freely choose to pursue.
Which Way Forward, Socialist?
We spoke to some of the Democratic Socialists of America members deciding the future of the country’s largest socialist organization this weekend.
Gustavo Rivera: “I Want to Destroy Health Insurance Companies’ Business Model”
New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera talks to Jacobin about his proposed state-level single-payer health care bill, why covering undocumented immigrants is crucial, and the state of progressive politics in New York.
Britain’s Tory Government Wants the Humanities to Be a Luxury for the Rich
British prime minister Rishi Sunak has launched a crackdown on what he calls “rip-off university degrees.” It’s really a push to discourage working-class students from choosing subjects that will help develop their critical understanding of the world.
Australia’s Insecure Work Framework Is Designed and Maintained by the Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is introducing legislation it claims will help end endemic insecure work. But if the party’s track record is anything to go by, casual workers shouldn’t hold their breath.
The Persecution of Azat Miftakhov Is Designed to Silence Russia’s Left
Russian anarchist Azat Miftakhov is spending his fifth year in jail for “hooliganism” — and now faces being framed on fake terrorism charges. His persecution is part of the Russian state’s campaign to intimidate the Left and silence opposition to the war.
Michael Dukakis Was Bill Clinton Before Bill Clinton
In the 1988 Democratic presidential primary, the pro-business centrism of Michael Dukakis faced off against the pro-worker populism of Jesse Jackson. Dukakis won — and set the stage for the Democrats’ decades-long race to the middle.
Hotel Workers Have Been Carrying Out Rolling Strikes Across Southern California
Since their contract expired on June 30, hotel workers across the Los Angeles area have launched a wave of rolling strikes against 62 hotels. They are demanding raises to keep up with LA’s skyrocketing cost of living — especially rents.
Fossil Fuel Companies Owe the World Massive Reparations for Climate Breakdown
The world is now experiencing some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, thanks to profiteering fossil fuel corporations. They owe us hundreds of billions of dollars in reparations for the havoc they’ve unleashed.
A Socialist Summer Reading List for the Dog Days of Summer
Just in time for your (hopeful) escape from the heat and the grind, here are the summer reading recommendations of Jacobin’s editors and staff writers.
In Parma, the Working Class Defeated the Fascists on the Barricades
In August 1922, Benito Mussolini’s Fascists crushed a general strike by force. But on the barricades of Parma, the working class imposed a stunning military defeat on the Blackshirts — a victory that inspired enduring resistance against the Fascist government.
Joe Biden Wants You to Kill and Die for the Saudi Monarchy
The Biden administration is entertaining the idea of pursuing a US-Saudi mutual defense pact. How does the prospect of risking lives for the Saudi monarchy sound?
Two Decades After 9/11, the Horrors at Guantánamo Bay Continue
Despite its extensively documented record of torture and other horrific human rights abuses, the US prison at Guantánamo Bay remains open. The Biden administration should close it immediately and make restitution to its victims.
The Unfulfilled Promise of the Freedom Budget
Activist and organizer Norman Hill was present for every major development in the civil rights movement during the 1960s. He spoke to Jacobin about the arc of the movement, the legacy of its leadership, and the lessons for the modern left.
Dealignment Is Real. We Can Help Reverse It.
Matt Karp on how a political movement beating the drum for working-class populism can restore fraying ties between blue-collar workers and the Left.
Barack Obama Is a Climate Hypocrite
In refusing to acknowledge his past climate denial and promotion of oil interests, Obama is relying on liberals forgetting his actual environmental record. Worse, he’s telling other Democratic leaders that lip service can stand in for action.
The Right’s Attacks on Librarian Emily Drabinski Are a Homophobic Assault on Free Speech
In launching red-baiting, homophobic attacks on librarian Emily Drabinski, the Right has shown it cares little about freedom of speech. Liberals and leftists should stand with Drabinski — both because the attacks are absurd and because they won’t stop here.
Britain’s Minimum Wage Law Has Been an Abject Failure
Tony Blair’s government introduced a national minimum wage for the UK 25 years ago. When it comes to lifting people out of poverty, the minimum wage law has been a clear failure — its enforcement has been lax, and it’s never kept up with the cost of living.