Another Chance for AOC to Step Up on Palestine
AOC let down the Palestine movement at the Democratic National Convention. But it’s not too late to make up for it.
19552 Articles by: Karl Leffme
Karl Leffme is a socialist in New York CIty.
Kamala Harris’s CNN Interview Didn’t Inspire Confidence
Kamala Harris cleared the low bar of avoiding a disastrous interview moment last night. But her answers suggested plenty of opportunities for disasters to come.
An Ode to the Art of Economic Survival
The Exit Is the Entrance chronicles a working life spanning some 30 jobs across eight states. Author Lydia Paar went AWOL from the military at age 20 and never stopped moving, an escape artist evading everything but her student debt.
How Dark Money Groups Bought a Tax Cut in Colorado
Dark money groups extracted huge tax cuts from Colorado lawmakers by threatening to push ballot initiatives that would slash taxes even further. Referenda should promote democracy — yet billionaires are using them to blackmail the state.
In Former East Germany, the Left Is Paying for Its Failures
Three states in former East Germany face elections in September, with the far-right Alternative für Deutschland leading polls. The party is exploiting voter discontent with the fallout of reunification — and the Left’s lack of a convincing alternative.
Universities Are Cracking Down on Free Speech Over Gaza
The school year is kicking off, and American universities are starting the semester with scaling back students’ First Amendment rights, with the goal of stopping criticisms of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Biden May Be the President Who Kills the Two-State Solution
Joe Biden convinced himself he could rescue his legacy by securing Palestinian statehood. His blank check to Israel could now make him the leader who killed it for good.
Fighting Climate Disinformation Is an Urgent Priority
The fossil fuel industry runs a sprawling, lavishly funded operation spreading lies about the climate crisis. Pushing back against that disinformation needs to be a priority for the climate movement.
Texas Has Set Up a System of Oil-Friendly Business Courts
Texas is about to open its business courts, a new legal system backed by Big Oil that is expected to have immediate impacts on environmental cases in the state. The courts’ judges were handpicked by Gov. Greg Abbott, a major recipient of oil industry cash.
Austerity Is a Choice
Despite what new Labour prime minister Keir Starmer says, there’s nothing inevitable about another round of austerity — it is a deliberate decision to avoid confronting the powerful and presenting a real alternative for working-class people.
Fred Halliday’s Study of Iran Is a Marxist Classic
On the eve of the Iranian revolution, Fred Halliday published a classic study of the shah’s US-backed dictatorship and the social forces working to undermine it. It’s an essential text for those who want to understand the politics of the Middle East.
LA Mayor Karen Bass Puts a Progressive Veneer on Centrism
LA mayor Karen Bass has burnished a progressive reputation throughout her political career. But that reputation has helped legitimate her move toward punitive approaches to homelessness and other social problems.
Public-Private Partnerships Hurt the Clean Energy Transition
When governments rely on free-market forces for the shift away from fossil fuels, gains are left in private hands while the public is responsible for losses.
Palestine Protests Aren’t Going Away
Democratic leaders can’t wish away protests against Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Emmanuel Macron Is Refusing to Allow the Left to Govern
Emmanuel Macron has ruled out appointing a government led by the biggest force in parliament, the left-wing New Popular Front. His refusal confirms a case long made by the Left: it’s time to get rid of the French president’s monarchical powers.
Why the Uncommitted Movement Was a Success at the DNC
Political strategist Waleed Shahid explains why the Uncommitted movement’s organizing at the Democratic National Convention should be seen as successfully moving the needle within the Democratic Party toward justice for Palestine.
These Grocery-Store Chains Want to Cripple the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission is trying to stop the merger of two of the US’s largest grocery-store chains, Kroger and Albertsons. In response, the companies are suing to undermine the FTC and dismantle the country’s antitrust machinery.
Neville Alexander Was a Major Thinker of Socialism in Africa
Neville Alexander was a brave fighter against South African apartheid who was jailed on Robben Island alongside Nelson Mandela. Alexander exposed the links between racism and capitalism and opposed the ANC’s neoliberal turn after the fall of apartheid.
The Heroic Origins of Japanese Socialism
Japan’s socialist movement took shape in the face of brutal repression as the country embarked on a path toward imperialist expansion. Against the odds, Japanese socialists built a political force that could challenge the new capitalist order.
The Crow Is a Predictable Dud
From the depths of August’s cinematic dumping ground comes The Crow, a dreary reboot of the classic 1994 Brandon Lee film, reviled by critics and loaded with lurid CGI and occult hooey. Save yourself the ticket price — better films are on their way.