Heavy Metals Music

Zamrock emerged from the optimism of postindependence Zambia, fusing psychedelic rock with nationalist ambition. Its rise and fall mirror the promise — and the exhaustion — of a country built on copper.

Money for Nothing

Why the modern financial sector is better at extracting rents than funding the future.

Elon’s Slash-and-Burn Operation

DOGE has cut millions of dollars’ worth of grants in every state.

On Cupcakes, ICE, and Matchmaking Incels With Immigrants

A Socialism That Invents

Why Nordic countries out-innovate the United States.

On Standstills, Social Media, and Soaring Toward the Strongest Democratic Party Possible

Making Plagues Investable

The World Bank’s pandemic bonds tried to turn public health crises into speculative opportunities.

State of the Art

At the height of the NFT craze, the cost of some digital art surpassed that of the great masters’.

Attacks on Undocumented Workers Are Attacks on Unions

Contrary to popular belief, many undocumented workers are organized in unions across the US. But ICE’s mass arrests will target these unionized immigrants disproportionately and weaken the hand of labor.

Zohran Mamdani Is Right on Public Safety

In last night’s New York City mayoral debate, socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani warded off attacks about “defunding the police” by articulating a principled and compelling message on public safety.

For All That Is Good About Humankind, Ban Smartphones

Smartphones are making us unhealthy, miserable, antisocial, and less free. If we can’t yet nationalize the attention economy, maybe it’s time to abolish its primary tool — before it finishes abolishing us.

The Danish Government’s Awful Stance on Gaza

Some European leaders have started to rhetorically distance themselves from Israel — but Denmark’s government hasn’t even gone that far. For all its boasting about its role championing human rights, it turns a blind eye toward Israeli crimes.

Designing a Wealth Tax for Today’s Robber Barons

A proposed wealth tax on Canada’s richest 0.6% could raise hundreds of billions of dollars — enough to tackle housing, transit, and care. The sheer scale of what a tiny slice of billionaire wealth could fund is staggering.

How the First Black Bank Was Looted

In the early days of the Gilded Age’s rush for profit, freed people’s savings were siphoned off by politically connected financiers. Justene Hill Edwards’s Savings and Trust uncovers how finance cloaked dispossession in the language of uplift.

Florida’s New Investment: Israel’s War

New legislation in Florida introduces a financial model that would enable local governments around the country to invest virtually limitless sums in the Israeli war effort, despite the mounting financial risk of doing so.

Zohran Mamdani’s Messaging Machine Is a Model to Emulate

New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has clearly learned from other effective communicators like Bernie Sanders how to use online media to spread popular left-wing ideas. Mamdani’s approach is a model for other insurgent candidates.

“This Fight Is Ours, but It Belongs to Everyone”

SEIU leader David Huerta’s arrest sparked the recent anti-ICE protest wave. Unions like his could tip the scales to win its demand: End the raids now.

Veterans Are Ramping Up Protests Against VA Cuts

The Trump administration wants to cut more than 80,000 VA jobs this year and further privatize veterans’ health care. Last week’s D-Day anniversary saw the biggest veteran mobilizations yet against Trump’s cuts to veterans’ benefits.

Andrew Cuomo Wants to Get Away With All of It

At the heart of Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral run is the firm belief that none of the terrible things he’s done to the people whose votes he’s competing for will matter. Here’s a reminder of a few of the biggest scandals on that long list.

Democrats Are Throwing In the Towel on Rural America

Since 2016, Democrats have operationally withdrawn from rural America. No party can win nationally without rural voters, and progressive economics have plenty to offer, if only the party would embrace them.