The US’s Long History of Destabilizing Iran
Kamala Harris recently called Iran a “destabilizing, dangerous force” in the Middle East. The appropriate context for understanding this remark is the US’s own decades-long history of destabilizing Iran.
19121 Articles by: Opal Lee
Opal Lee is a writer.
Amid Hurricane Milton, GOP Reps Are Blocking Climate Action
As Hurricane Milton bears down on their districts, two Republican representatives backed by fossil fuel companies are pushing legislation that claims the climate crisis is a “false emergency.”
Has the Forward March of Sinn Féin Halted?
Sinn Féin was aiming to form a government in the South of Ireland for the first time after riding high in the polls for a couple of years. But with an election due within months, a drop in support for Sinn Féin means that prospect is slipping away.
The US’s Priority: Palestinian Slaughter, Not Hurricane Prep
As devastating natural disasters cause mass destruction across the southeastern United States, politicians and leaders are more concerned with arming Israel to the teeth than preparing and rebuilding their own communities.
Republicans’ and Democrats’ Biggest Corporate Sponsors
Both political parties in the US receive exorbitant amounts of donations from corporations and the very rich. A close look at the money trail shows which sections of capital favor Republicans and Democrats, respectively.
Comintern History Isn’t Just About Its Leaders
The Communist International’s history is often told in terms of polemics among its leaders. But studying the biographies of lesser-known militants who came to Moscow gives a more real sense of the movement’s internal life and what it was like to belong to it.
Joker: Folie à Deux Torpedoes Joker’s Melodramatic Power
Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to the huge 2019 hit Joker, is a vague and incoherent bummer of a film that even the dedication and charisma of Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix can’t redeem. But with musical numbers!
Keir Starmer’s Anti-Populism Is a Politics of Hopelessness
At the recent Labour conference, Keir Starmer promised a break with the “fantasy of populism.” His creed of sensible centrism is allergic to popular demands — offering only smug boasting about its own hardheadedness.
One Year After 10/7, Israel’s Eye-for-an-Eye Logic Must End
One year ago, Hamas killed hundreds of Israeli civilians. Israel has since killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, justifying it as righteous revenge. The only way out of the entire region spiraling into war is to slam the brakes on retribution.
The Port Strike Called the Shipping Companies’ Bluff
When East and Gulf Coast longshoremen went on strike last week, their employers claimed to be unable to afford their wage demands. In truth, the shipping industry has seen unparalleled profits in recent years. The strike made them change their tune.
Israeli Politics Is Even More Right-Wing Since October 7
Prior to October 7, religious Zionist and other far-right factions had gained influence over Israel’s military, judiciary, and parliament. They have used the war to tighten their grip on power, suppressing the few challengers to the ongoing violence.
One Year on, Gaza Is Democrats’ Far-Right War
The world feared what Donald Trump would do to Muslims upon winning the presidency in 2016. But in the year since October 7, a genocide of a mostly Muslim population has been overseen and made possible by his liberal opponent, Joe Biden.
How October 7 Transformed Israeli Society
October 7 saw so many aspects of the Israeli state and society — its uncompromising reliance on military force, its dehumanization of Palestinians, and its demand for unquestioning loyalty to ethnicity and nation — kick into overdrive.
What Life Looked Like for Palestinians Before October 7
Israel is fast turning Gaza into a wasteland, the result of decades of occupation and apartheid. Israeli journalist Amira Hass explains what life was like for Palestinians before the current genocide.
The UAW’s Rank-and-File Takeover Isn’t Over Yet
Rank-and-file autoworkers democratized their union, elected president Shawn Fain, and won a landmark strike. Now they will have to win local officer positions, dominated by the old guard, to hold bosses to their word and maintain a fighting union.
The Chicken Hawks Want War With Iran
Many pundits and policymakers who have never seen combat but rarely see a war they don’t adore are now beating the drums for war on Iran.
Jeremy Corbyn: Israel’s Impunity Endangers Us All
A year into the genocide in Gaza, we are closer than ever to an all-out regional war. Western governments’ support for the Israeli war machine and indifference to human life has endangered us all.
Neil Gorsuch’s Big Oil Pals Are Targeting Green Legislation
An oil giant linked to Justice Neil Gorsuch is pressing the Supreme Court to allow a crude oil train to run perilously close to a key water source for 40 million people. At stake in the case are foundational environmental laws protecting the Southwest.
Caught Employing Slaves, McDonald’s Promises to Do Better
The dire conditions of fast-food work cause enormous staff turnover, which puts franchisees in a constant search for desperate workers. It’s no wonder that one McDonald’s in England failed to notice that it was employing victims of human trafficking.
Hollywood’s New Sex Worker Roles Are Girlboss Heroines
In Hollywood, sex workers have become the ultimate girlbosses. The message is clear: there’s no need for collective empowerment when one can escape the low-wage economy by cashing in on the power of bootstrapping entrepreneurism.