Frank Sinatra vs. Australia’s Trade Unions
Touring Australia in 1974, Frank Sinatra launched into a sexist tirade against female journalists. Trade unions hit back — by shutting down Sinatra’s tour.
19104 Articles by: Benjamin Case
Benjamin Case is a researcher, educator, and organizer living in Pittsburgh.
We Need a World Without Landlords
Recent battles over eviction moratoriums and homeless encampments have shown the depressing limits of our political horizons. We need to envision a radically different system that guarantees everyone the right to decent, stable housing.
1,100 Union Miners in Alabama Are Now in Their Fifth Month on Strike
More than 1,000 union miners have been on strike in Alabama for months, resisting a company that puts its shareholders over workers’ well-being. Yet the political establishment remains conspicuously silent — showing again they have little regard for the working class.
When It Comes to Stopping Evictions, Suddenly the “Rule of Law” Matters
The rules in Washington are simple: there can be little to no restrictions on the president’s ability to bomb and brutalize foreigners. But when it comes to stopping mass evictions, executive power must be strictly restrained.
Amazon’s Power Will Only Keep Expanding in the Near Future
Amazon was already gargantuan before the pandemic. Its rapid growth since then has made it one of the most powerful institutions in the country’s history — shaping our physical as much as mental landscapes, and putting more and more of our daily lives under its control.
René González of the Cuban Five on Cuba’s Challenge and Washington’s Hypocrisy
René González is one of the Cuban Five, long jailed in the US for their intelligence work combating far-right Miami terrorist groups. He spoke to Jacobin about the blockade and what his trial told him about the US’s concern for human rights in Cuba.
Nina Turner Showed That a Left Candidate Can Win Black Workers
Nina Turner’s primary loss this week stings, but a close look at the numbers makes clear her loss wasn’t the result of a bold left-wing candidate being unable to win over black workers. On the contrary: in black working-class districts, Turner performed well.
The African Union Should Not Have Welcomed Israel Into its Ranks
Israel has achieved a diplomatic coup by becoming an “observer” state at the African Union. Its goal is to undermine Palestinian efforts to win support for their struggle on the African continent.
Another Socialist Will Be Taking a Seat in the New York City Council
Socialist City Council candidate Kristin Richardson Jordan scored a remarkable upset victory in Harlem, with a campaign combining unabashed radicalism with a commitment to the unglamorous work of constituent services.
Prisons Shouldn’t Funnel Immigrants Into Deportation
California sends thousands of prisoners into deportation proceedings each year. A new bill aims to change that, but it may face opposition — not just from the Right but also from some Democrats.
Daniel Hale Went to Prison for Telling the Truth About US Drone Warfare
Daniel Hale’s revelations about the brutalities of US drone warfare didn’t harm any Americans or make them less safe. But his prosecution for whistleblowing and recent sentencing to nearly four years in prison was a blow against democracy.
Emmanuel Macron’s France Is Authoritarian Because It’s Run Like a Business
Upon becoming president, Emmanuel Macron promised to make France into a “start-up nation.” But imitating workplace hierarchies has made his government deeply authoritarian — subjecting democratic institutions to the tyranny of the boss.
McCain Workers in Tasmania Are Fighting for Equal Pay
On average, Tasmanian workers are paid 10 percent less than mainlanders. After making huge sacrifices to maintain food supplies during the pandemic, workers at the McCain Foods plant in Smithton are now taking a stand for dignity against their bosses.
Nina Turner’s Defeat Shows That Big Money Still Rules in US Politics
If there’s a lesson in the Ohio 11th race, it’s about the lengths to which the Democratic machine is willing to go to defeat its leading critics — and the lows to which it’s ultimately willing to stoop.
Andrew Cuomo Isn’t Just a Scumbag to Women, He’s a Scumbag to All Workers
New York governor Andrew Cuomo is facing mounting calls to resign or face impeachment amid new sexual harassment revelations. It’s long overdue: Cuomo isn’t just a bully to women, he’s an attack dog for the corporate elite.
Anthony Bourdain Deserved a Realer Documentary Than Roadrunner
From staging its emotional finale to deploying AI-generated simulations of Anthony Bourdain’s voice, Roadrunner’s director has undercut the reliability of the entire project.
Kshama Sawant: Why I Signed the Petition for My Own Recall
Since the moment that socialist Kshama Sawant was elected to the Seattle City Council, the rich, the Right, and the Democratic establishment have tried to destroy her. Having failed to defeat her at the ballot box, Sawant explains in Jacobin, they’re now resorting to voter suppression.
The UK’s Parliament Is Full of Landlords
No less than 115 UK members of parliament — 90 of them Tories — are landlords. The housing crisis won’t be solved until that changes.
Alabama Amazon Workers Are Likely Getting a Second Shot at a Union
A federal official has recommended that the results of the union election at Amazon’s Bessemer, Alabama warehouse be thrown out and a second election be held, due to the company’s illegal anti-union tactics. It’s a step forward for the essential task of organizing one of the world’s most powerful companies
Democrats Took Big Real Estate Money, Then Let the Eviction Ban Expire
Just before failing in their “relentless campaign” to extend a desperately needed eviction moratorium, House Democrats’ super PAC received a million dollars from a real estate mogul. It was surely just a coincidence.