Eric Adams’s Indictment Creates an Opening for the Left
Whether Eric Adams resigns as New York mayor or not, the city’s left will have an opportunity to set the narrative of the mayoral election next year — something it failed to do in 2021.
19783 Articles by: Opal Lee
Opal Lee is a writer.
How US Trade Unionists Opposed the Dirty War in El Salvador
The Reagan administration enlisted the AFL-CIO to provide cover for its bloody campaign against the Left in Central America. But progressive forces in US labor took a stand in solidarity with trade unionists facing murderous repression in El Salvador.
The Paris Commune’s Spirit Is Still Alive
Thinkers like Karl Marx and Peter Kropotkin identified the commune as the political framework for a transformed, radically democratic society. We can find examples of this in some of the key social and environmental struggles of the world today.
How Giorgia Meloni Became a “Globalist Elite” Herself
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni used to damn liberal “globalists” who undermined national sovereignty. This week, she accepted the Atlantic Council’s Global Citizen Award, in recognition of her role as a servile ally to Washington.
Nagorno-Karabakh Bears the Scars of Azeri Control
One year after Azerbaijan’s militarized takeover of the area, Nagorno-Karabakh remains scarred by violence and loss. As peace efforts stall, our reporter uncovers personal stories that reveal the deep wounds of this enduring conflict.
Corporations Want Government-Funded Lobbyists
Republican lawmakers are pushing two anti-ESG bills designed to combat “woke” investing that would install taxpayer-funded corporate lobbyists in the SEC. Critics say it’s a conservative wish list “straight out of the Project 2025 playbook.”
This Is Why We Need to Abolish the Death Penalty
No more state-sanctioned barbarity. No more killing of innocent people like Marcellus Williams. Abolish the death penalty.
Colombia’s Hosting of COP16 Will Be a Heavily Militarized Affair
Next month, Cali, Colombia, will host the annual environmental conference COP16. The city’s right-wing mayor has called upon thousands of army and police officers in preparation, both of whom have a long history of suppressing environmental activists.
Maine Unions Lead on the Green Energy Transition
For an example of how the labor movement can play a key role in the push for green energy, look to Maine, where unions’ leadership of a red-green coalition has been essential in the state’s push for offshore wind.
Irfan Habib Is One of the Great Marxist Historians
By creatively applying Marxist ideas to the history of India, Irfan Habib has made an invaluable contribution to our understanding of its past. Legal harassment from Narendra Modi’s supporters hasn’t stopped Habib from taking brave political stands.
We Still Need to Nationalize the Banks
The demand for the government to take over banks was once a rallying cry of mass movements of workers and farmers in the United States. In an era of runaway Wall Street greed and power, that demand should again be central.
The Left’s Proud Legacy of Defending Free Speech
Throughout US history, left-wingers have often suffered harsh repression of their civil liberties, which is why they were at the forefront of fights to defend free speech. It’s a proud tradition that the Palestine movement must carry on today.
France’s New Government Is a Hard Turn to the Right
France’s new prime minister, Michel Barnier, has just unveiled a staunchly conservative cabinet. His coalition cobbles together parties who scored feebly in summer’s elections — and looks unlikely to revive Emmanuel Macron’s flagging administration.
The Slander Against Rashida Tlaib Proves Her Point
After Rashida Tlaib complained about anti-Palestinian bias in elite circles, politicians and journalists spent days defaming her using a fake quote. It’s the kind of mendacious treatment that has become the norm against pro-Palestine voices since October 7.
Why Is the Audubon Society Attacking the NLRB?
Last month, the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against the Audubon Society concerning treatment of its employees. In a wildly aggressive response, the nonprofit is arguing that the NLRB is unconstitutional.
The Democrats Want a Bigger, More Beautiful Border Wall
Donald Trump’s cruel border policies sparked an outpouring of popular compassion for migrants, which Democrats made central to their 2020 platform. Now the Biden administration and the Kamala Harris campaign have embraced Trump’s xenophobic premises.
Not Taxing Tips Is a Bad Idea
Servers and other tipped workers desperately need better pay. Donald Trump’s blurted-out proposal not to tax tips, now copied by Kamala Harris, isn’t the way to achieve it.
Israel Is Extending Its Genocidal War to Lebanon
With US arms continuing to flow to Israel as it slaughtered more than 500 people in Lebanon since yesterday, Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have few qualms about igniting a full-blown regional war — and US officials aren’t stopping him.
Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo Feels Very Familiar
Intermezzo, the latest novel by Sally Rooney, trots out some well-worn gender tropes from on and off the page.
A Towering Screenwriter Brought Low by McCarthyism
A new biography rescues Mary C. McCall Jr, the Screen Writers Guild’s first female president, from an unjust obscurity. McCall’s writing talents were immense. But in an era of witch hunts, her status as a labor leader made her a target.