Democrats’ Paid Leave Proposal Isn’t Actually Universal. It Can and Should Be.
There’s no reason why the Dems’ paid parental leave program can’t cover everyone.
19123 Articles by: Benjamin Case
Benjamin Case is a researcher, educator, and organizer living in Pittsburgh.
There’s No Reason for Progressives to Vote for the Watered-Down Infrastructure Bill
The reconciliation bill has been so watered down, progressives should no longer feel pressure — moral or political — to support it.
Noam Chomsky: “It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way”
In a new interview, Noam Chomsky argues that a livable future free of catastrophic climate change is possible — we just have to take on the billionaires standing in the way.
Canadaland: The Podcast Holding Power to Account
Jesse Brown’s Canadaland has stepped into the breach left by Canada’s ailing legacy media. The podcast has been a strong shot in the arm for the country’s investigative journalism.
Rep. Mickey Leland Was the Embodiment of Black Internationalism
In the 1970s and ’80s, internationalism was central to black politics. And few better personified that commitment than Texas congressman Mickey Leland, who fought tooth and nail to end US support for South African apartheid.
In India, Communists Are Leading the Fight Against COVID-19
India’s right-wing government has been criminally negligent in its management of the pandemic, with deadly results. But communists and their allies have stepped in to provide relief to tens of thousands of suffering people.
Private Equity Firms Want to Gobble Up California’s Pensions
Wall Street private equity firms are gaining control of retirement systems like California’s public pensions and fast-tracking the corporatization of the public sector.
The Economy Is Suffering From Too Little Government Intervention, Not Too Much
From Tucker Carlson to Larry Summers, free market devotees are blaming inflation on Joe Biden’s “big government” economic policies. In reality, the administration has done far too little to insulate Americans from the economic effects of the pandemic.
Harvard Student Workers Are Prepared to Strike
Harvard is the world’s richest university — and Harvard’s student workers say they are being paid sub-living wages. A Harvard Graduate Student Union leader tells Jacobin about the union’s struggle with the university and why they’re prepared to strike.
The Velvet Underground Brings Back the Thrills of the 1960s Avant-Garde
Todd Haynes’s excellent new documentary on legendary rock band the Velvet Underground reminds us of just how daring both music and film once was not that long ago.
Halyna Hutchins’s Death on the Set of Rust Was “Not a Freak Accident”
Halyna Hutchins’s death during the filming of Rust is a tragic consequence of studios prioritizing profit and speed over crew members’ lives. Alec Baldwin’s culpability isn’t about him pulling the trigger on a prop gun — it’s about his and his fellow producers’ cost-cutting decisions.
Class Politics in America Is Far From Dead
A venerable theory about people’s political values is making a comeback: the theory of “postmaterialism.” But despite what you may have heard, the theory doesn’t say class politics is doomed in rich countries — and neither did the scholar who created it.
Billionaires Are Partying in Space While Planet Earth Burns
At a time when people around the world are suffering from shortages due to supply chain bottlenecks, megalomanic capitalists are organizing space flights with B-list celebrities — further proof of the urgency of separating the billionaires from their billions.
Netflix’s Maid Offers a Rare Portrayal of Low-Wage Domestic Work
Adeptly exploring the compound effects of low-wage work, unsupported parenthood, and our broken social support system, Maid rings true for millions of working-class women.
The Progressive Pieces of the Budget Reconciliation Bill Are Quickly Disappearing
Democratic leaders are moving to gut the parts of the budget reconciliation bill that would aid workers and fight climate change. House progressives like Pramila Jayapal shouldn’t vote for an empty husk of a bill.
Meet the Detroit Socialist Running to Rein in the Police
Landis Spencer is a socialist running for the civilian board that oversees the Detroit Police Department. His goal: to curb police power and shift public money to poor and working-class residents.
Big Tech Won’t Make Health Care Any Better
Apple CEO Tim Cook claimed in 2019 that his company’s greatest achievement will be “about health.” But the pandemic has shown that Big Tech’s involvement in health care is all about data collection.
Argentine Filmmaker Lucrecia Martel on Cancel Culture, Colonialism, and Chocobar
Director Lucrecia Martel is famous for her subtle portrayals of class and race relations in Latin America. In Chocobar, she’s turning her lens on how 500 years of colonial history is connected to the contemporary murder of indigenous activist Javier Chocobar.
No, Japan Should Not Remilitarize
Washington’s push to rebuild Japan’s military, disbanded after World War II, is incredibly dangerous. Not only would remilitarization stoke conflict in the region, it would also embolden the growing Japanese far right.
The EU’s Border With Belarus Has Become a Deadly Rampart of Fortress Europe
This spring, Belarus announced that it would retaliate against European sanctions by loosening its border controls. Neighboring EU countries have responded with a brutal crackdown on asylum seekers — with deadly consequences.