Reproduction Isn’t Creativity, and AI Isn’t Art
Artificial intelligence is poised to suck the soul out of art — and make artists’ already precarious existence even worse.
20426 Article(s) by: Opal Lee
Opal Lee is a writer.
Have Any of Karl Marx’s Critics Today Actually Read Him?
The Right never seems to stop talking about “Marxism” and its wily tricks. But for all their denunciations, conservative pundits really just keep proving they don’t even know the basics of Karl Marx’s thought.
Washington Is Using the Ukraine War to Rebuild Its Global Power
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has produced a moment of unity in the West — and helped Washington reassert its leadership in NATO. With no peace in sight, the war has provided the opportunity to rebuild America’s tattered “informal empire.”
Barboncino Workers Are Forming New York City’s First Unionized Stand-Alone Pizzeria
Workers at the Crown Heights pizzeria Barboncino are organizing a union with Workers United. It would be the first pizzeria of its kind to go union in New York — and perhaps not the last.
You Hurt My Feelings Is a Slice-of-Life Comedy for Rich People With No Problems
Even with a cast led by the hilarious Julia Louis-Dreyfus, You Hurt My Feelings struggles to find a single laugh in this comedy of manners about affluent New Yorkers learning the value of “little white lies.”
The Debt Ceiling Deal Is an “Eff You” to Poor People
The debt ceiling deal is a cruel agreement that imposes new work requirements on SNAP recipients and bureaucratic hurdles for those who still qualify. It will kick people off the rolls and inflict pain, seemingly randomly, with no regard for the human toll.
Everyday Resistance Is Not an Alternative to Politics
Following the defeat of the Arab Spring, leftists were quick to look for consolation in the small acts of resistance that took place during the revolt. This optimism was misplaced. In order to enact change, the Left must seize the levers of power.
Adam McKay: It’s Not Too Late to Demand a Sane Government Response to Climate Change
The world will soon cross 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming beyond preindustrial levels, meaning serious destabilization of the earth’s ecosystem. But we can still mitigate climate change’s worst effects with drastic government action.
In the Debt Ceiling Standoff, the Democrats Are Letting Themselves Get Pantsed by the GOP
In the debt ceiling standoff, Republicans have held the global economy hostage, demanding a ransom payment that consists of cuts to the US social safety net, rapid approval of fossil fuel projects, and more. Joe Biden is mostly letting the GOP get its way.
Canadian Health Care Is in Need of a Defibrillator
Canadian politicians are destroying Canada’s greatest accomplishment — its health care system. The country is sliding toward health care privatization due to weak federal leadership and sustained assaults on Medicare by conservative provinces.
The Writers’ Strike Reminds Us Hollywood Is a Site of Class Struggle
The writers of your favorite movies and shows are workers just like you. They deserve your solidarity.
Uncovering Ireland’s Communist History
A new film offers a visually attractive, fair-minded, and substantial introduction to the lost world of Irish Communism, and the vision of a more just future that Irish Communists sought to create.
Succession Is King Lear for Our Era of Ravenous Corporate Media
Succession, the HBO drama about a Rupert Murdoch–esque billionaire and his dysfunctional family, is ending this weekend. Executive producer Frank Rich discusses the show’s critique of corporate media and what’s made the series so compelling.
Keir Starmer Is Keeping New Labour’s Authoritarianism Alive
The Blair-era Labour Party introduced a raft of policies hostile to civil liberties. The British government continues to push legislation to clamp down on protesters and protect police, and Keir Starmer is letting it happen.
San Sebastián Is a Paradise for Landlords — And Right-Wingers Want to Keep It That Way
Tourist hot spot San Sebastián has Spain’s highest house prices, pushing out many locals. Ahead of today’s elections, Basque left party EH Bildu is calling for action on rents — but the campaign has been dominated by attempts to demonize the party.
In Turkey, the Real Opposition Is on the Left
Today’s Turkish election will test whether President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan can hold on to power. His opponent, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, has made a pact with ultranationalists — showing that left-wing and Kurdish movements have to build an opposition of their own.
The Unelected Board Governing Puerto Rico Will Continue to Operate in Secret
The Supreme Court just ruled that the antidemocratic board overseeing Puerto Rico’s debt repayment and dictating its budget can continue to operate in secrecy. After 2019’s popular revolt, the board’s existence likely depends on it.
Long Before Daniel Penny Killed Jordan Neely, There Was Death Wish
It’s been nearly 50 years since Charles Bronson first mowed down New York muggers in Death Wish. But defenses of the recent killing of Jordan Neely suggest that the film’s reactionary, Wild West–style vigilante violence still holds the imagination of many.
Rich People Are Boring
Cartoonist Syd Hoff drew the rich as they are: ridiculous, incompetent, hopelessly out of touch, and boring.
Henry Kissinger Is a Disgusting War Criminal. And the Rot Goes Deeper Than Him.
It’s Henry Kissinger’s 100th birthday today. The fact that this monster is celebrated instead of in jail tells you that he’s part of a much bigger problem — and that problem is America’s global empire.