In Today’s Election, the Survival of Brazil’s Democracy Is at Stake
Today, Brazilian voters are not just choosing between Bolsonaro and Lula — the far right and the Left — but whether their nation’s politics will be authoritarian or democratic.
19250 Articles by: Alex Press
Fascism Was a Violent Counterrevolution
A century since the March on Rome, it is important to remember the horrors of Benito Mussolini’s regime. Fascism was morally repugnant — but also a movement based on violent counterrevolution.
Mike Davis’s Many Contributions to Building a Better World Will Live On
No leftist writer can compare to Mike Davis — not in clarity, breadth, generosity, or ironclad commitment to the working class. Davis has died, but his ideas will continue to find life in generations of leftist activists and thinkers to come.
Emmanuel Macron’s Government Is Imposing Its Unpopular Agenda by Decree
Emmanuel Macron’s government lost its majority this June, and now relies on strong-arm tactics to push through its agenda. This week’s budget debate showed the government’s weakness — and the possibility of blocking its assault on France’s social model.
They Live Is a Timeless Anti-Capitalist Horror Classic
It’s never a bad time to revisit John Carpenter’s 1988 classic They Live, a hilarious sci-fi thriller that skewers the inequality of the neoliberal era and offers an iconic depiction of capitalist ideology.
Australia’s Industrial Relations System Is Designed to Enrich Capital at Workers’ Expense
Since the 1980s, workplace law in Australia has crippled the union movement. Today, it’s a finely tuned machine that exacerbates inequality in order to enrich a small minority of bosses.
New York Landlords Would Rather Keep Homes Empty Than Provide Affordable Housing
During a dire housing crisis, new reporting shows New York City landlords are keeping tens of thousands of rent-stabilized apartments vacant. It’s not the first time landlords have mobilized to erode the city’s affordable housing stock.
To Protect Workers From Inflation, Unions Want to Bring Back the COLA Clause
Cost-of-living adjustment clauses — which protect wages against inflation — used to be standard fare in collective agreements. By fighting to bring the COLA clause back, Canadian workers are refusing to bear the brunt of spiraling costs.
The Politics of Celebrity Are Still a Dead End for the Democratic Party
From Howard Dean to Hillary Clinton, from Beto O’Rourke to Pete Buttigieg, the Democratic Party seems addicted to using personality-driven stardom as a substitute for real politics.
Defeating the Right’s Assault on Democracy Requires a Robust, Progressive Economic Plan
Voters agree American democracy is in trouble, but they’re divided on why and don’t seem too concerned. The Left needs a strong message condemning right-wing attacks on democracy and connecting the topic to the bread-and-butter issues voters care about.
When Liberals Fell in Love With Benito Mussolini
Today marks 100 years since Benito Mussolini became Italy’s prime minister. His first governments pursued austerity and suppressed the labor movement — earning him the praise of liberal economists both in Italy and abroad.
Ballot Initiatives Are the Hidden Voting Rights Issue in This Election Cycle
As our representative system has become less democratic and more oligarchical, ballot initiatives have become more important to passing majoritarian legislation. The Left should take note and proceed accordingly.
John Fetterman’s Post-Stroke Struggles Are Brave. They’re Also Irrelevant.
John Fetterman’s post-stroke impairment is temporary, it doesn’t affect his cognitive capacity, and plenty of sitting senators have suffered from much worse. So why is his condition getting more attention than his opponent’s sleazy history?
Haiti Isn’t Asking for US Intervention
Mainstream media outlets like the Washington Post are eager for US intervention around the globe. They’re currently pushing for American intervention in Haiti, claiming Haitians want it. But Haitians themselves aren’t saying anything of the sort.
Mike Davis Was the Best Socialist Writer of the Last Half Century
Mike Davis forced himself to look at the very worst of our society and world. What he found wasn’t pretty. Yet he never abandoned the search for seeds of positive change — and for socialism.
Workers Want to Unionize. Will Union Leaders Respond?
Conditions are ripe for labor’s revitalization. So why aren’t unions stepping up with massive financial and organizational support for workers’ organizing efforts?
Predatory Overdraft Fees Need to End
Joe Biden has promised to crack down on overdraft and “junk” fees — a huge source of revenue for banks. Republicans and the banks who fund their campaigns are fighting desperately to preserve them.
With Progressive Congress Members Pulling Their Ukraine Letter, Diplomacy Is Now a Four-Letter Word
War fever in Washington has reached such a pitch that even mild calls for cease-fire talks, as House progressives articulated in a now-retracted letter, are now beyond the pale. That’s dangerous at any time, let alone when nuclear tensions are high.
The New York Governor’s Race Should Not Be This Close
Kathy Hochul can’t just parrot Republican talking points about crime to win reelection as New York’s governor — she needs a positive vision for voters. Currently, that vision is absent, and it’s reflected in her low poll numbers.
Amsterdam Is a Mess and a Bomb and Also Sort of Interesting
Credit to David O. Russell for trying to make a movie, Amsterdam, that’s unique and compelling. He didn’t really succeed, but at least he tried.