North Korea, Without the Hacks
Most US reporting on North Korea is inaccurate fluff produced by self-serving careerists. But a new book finally shows how to do it right.
20423 Article(s) by: Karl Leffme
Karl Leffme is a socialist in New York CIty.
The Gilets Noirs Are in the Building
Paris’s tourist economy relies on a hidden army of undocumented migrants. But these workers are no longer happy to remain in the shadows — and their protests for regular status are drawing inspiration from the gilets jaunes.
Biden’s Medicare Lie
In his fight against Medicare for All, Joe Biden has taken up one of the oldest Republican scaremongering tactics: telling seniors universal coverage will threaten Medicare.
The Ultra-Rich Are Ultra-Conservative
Billionaires typically stay quiet about their politics. But don’t mistake their silence for moderation — the uber-rich tend to be extremely politically active and extremely conservative.
Meet Shahid Buttar, Pelosi’s Left-Wing Challenger
Nancy Pelosi is facing a primary challenge from a civil rights lawyer who supports the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. Knocking her off would be a resounding win for the Left.
A Tale of Two Prisoners
Comparing the treatment of Jeffrey Epstein to Ramsey Orta, the man who filmed Eric Garner’s murder, reveals the grotesque inequality at the heart of American society. There’s one set of rules for the rich, and an entirely different set for the poor.
The Donald Trump of Central America
President Nayib Bukele is El Salvador’s Donald Trump. His hard-right bluster and media-centric populism threaten to deal a devastating blow to the country’s once-mighty left.
Roselló Steps Down After Puerto Rico Rises
Puerto Rico governor Rosselló offered the island no way out, no road map — just failure cloaked in rhetoric. That’s why mass movements forced his ouster — and why they’ll keep organizing for a recovery for all Puerto Ricans, not just the rich.
There’s a Reason You’ve Never Heard of John Delaney
John Delaney’s campaign for president has lasted two years, cost millions of dollars, and yielded poll numbers as close to zero as you can get. That’s the good news.
A Strike to Keep Us Working
Strikes have spread to more than 200 emergency rooms across France, as nurses and health-care assistants call out the neglect of public hospitals. The striking workers don’t want to disrupt vital services — they’re acting to stop Emmanuel Macron from running them into the ground.
The Radical Roots of Free Speech
Conservatives like to claim that leftists are opponents of free speech. But that’s nonsense: it was radical labor organizers who founded the ACLU and who fought for civil liberties as a means to resist capitalists’ power.
Will Elizabeth Warren Keep Her Promise to “End the Occupation”?
Once a hawkish supporter of Israel, Elizabeth Warren has recently adopted a more balanced stance. That’s undoubtedly a good thing — but she’ll have to go much further to truly support Palestinian rights.
An Ecstatic Homecoming for AOC
At a recent town hall in Queens, AOC received a rapturous reception from constituents, many of them activists who spoke out about their local organizing work. The lesson was clear: to keep up the fight, she and her Congressional colleagues will need more than applause — they’ll need a movement behind them.
The Shadow Bosses of the Gig Economy
DoorDash took a page from traditional restaurant managers: it stole workers’ tips. But even as it reversed course under public pressure, the delivery platform highlighted the exploitation at the core of capitalist employment.
Why They Hate Bernie
Remember the frenzied, paranoid style of right-wing anti-Clintonism? The lies, the conspiracy theories, the deeply personal disgust? Well, it’s back — only this time it’s migrated to the Democratic Party and its unhinged attacks on Bernie Sanders.
Inclusion Isn’t Enough
Urban planning often sees inclusion and access as the keystones of a free and just city. But socialists should instead think about ownership: who owns property, and the power it gives them.
When Orbán Was a Liberal
Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party began life as a liberal opposition to Hungary’s Soviet-backed regime. But far from waging a generic fight for freedom, Orbán and his crony capitalist allies turned Hungary into the laboratory for a new far right.
Eugene Scalia Is a Foe of the Working Class
Eugene Scalia has spent his career as a corporate lawyer fighting for the interests of capital. Now that he’s in line to run the Labor Department, Marx’s quip about the capitalist state as the executive committee of the bourgeoisie has never looked more accurate.
Brace Yourself for a Boris Johnson Premiership
Boris Johnson, a friend of Steve Bannon and a self-declared enemy of Jeremy Corbyn’s “red-clawed socialism,” will be a disaster for working people.
The Resistance to Boris Johnson Must Start Today
With Boris Johnson as prime minister, a no-deal Brexit is a real possibility. The Left must start organizing now to avert it.