The Crypto Emperor’s New Clothes
Sam Bankman-Fried fanned the flames of crypto madness. And he couldn’t have done it without his powerful friends.
66 Articles by: Ryan Zickgraf
Ryan Zickgraf is a journalist based in Atlanta.
The Terrorism Charges Against Cop City Protesters Are Ominous
Protesters against a massive police militarization complex in Atlanta have been slapped with domestic terrorism charges for throwing bottles and breaking windows. That should be deeply worrisome for anyone who values the right to dissent.
Robots Are Coming for White-Collar Workers, Too
In previous industrial revolutions, machines took over manual labor jobs, then repetitive assembly line work and analog office drudgery. Now they’re coming for “cognitive” work.
The World’s New Richest Man, Bernard Arnault, Is Hardly Better Than Elon Musk
Hold your applause for luxury brand magnate Bernard Arnault, the billionaire who just surpassed Elon Musk as the richest man in the world. He may not be taunting the Left on social media, but he’s just as much an emblem of grotesque inequality.
The Problem With Call of Duty Isn’t That It Makes Us Violent — It’s That It Makes Us Numb
Everyone’s talking about the horrible political message of the new Call of Duty. Fair enough. But there’s no proof that video games generate real-world violence. There is proof, however, that gaming is sedating, addicting, and isolating.
On Halloween Night in 1891, Tennessee Miners Made Righteous Mayhem
The Coal Creek War was one of the largest insurrections in American labor history, with thousands of miners batting state troops to end the convict leasing system designed to extend slavery and undermine organized labor.
As Serious Local Journalism Declines, Empty Partisan Hackery Is Taking Its Place
As local newspapers shut down across the country, partisan mudslinging masquerading as news has filled in the vacuum. The Republicans are trailblazers in “pink slime journalism,” but the Democrats are following their lead.
Meghan Markle Is Not the People’s Princess
For all the talk of social justice on her new podcast, Archetypes, Meghan Markle seems only to vaguely endorse trickle-down celebrity feminism — and to promote herself as a symbol of the enlightened liberal ruling class.
Thomas Paine Was History’s Greatest Hater of the British Crown
The American Revolution was inspired by ruthless criticism of the British monarchy. Why stop now?
All In at the Crypto Casino
How America got high on the crypto bubble — and lost it all.
The Jackson Water Crisis Is a Disaster Created by Austerity
Jackson, Mississippi’s water crisis is an omen of climate disasters to come. But August floods were only the straw that broke the Jackson water system’s back. More fundamentally, the crisis is the result of decades of disinvestment and austerity.
How to Work Hard, Live Frugally, and Still Have $71,000 in Student Debt
Critics like to paint a picture of debtors as overeducated elites demanding a handout while idly snacking on $15 avocado toasts. But I’ve worked hard and lived modestly, and my debt is still haunting me — even after the White House’s partial cancellation.
The Uber Files Revealed a Corrosive System of US Lobbying
Uber is in trouble after a leak demonstrating the extent of its pay-to-play activities. But in America, you don’t need a trove of leaked texts or emails to prove the corrosive effects of lobbying. The proof is right out in the open, and Uber is hardly alone.
The 1877 Class War That America Forgot
In 1877, one million workers went on strike and fought police and federal troops in cities across America. The monikers “Great Upheaval” and “Great Railroad Strike” undersell what verged on a second Civil War — this time pitting labor against capital.
Right-Wing Billionaire Ken Griffin Is Florida’s Problem Now
The Citadel CEO spent $179 million trying to make Illinois a conservative hellscape. Now he’s taking his talents to South Beach.
Was Ozark Actually About the Clintons?
In its last season, Ozark goes beyond family drama. It critiques the insidious ways that capitalism and political power work in America and the self-interested choices elites make to keep climbing the ladder.
The Two Souls of Pentecostalism
Early Pentecostal preachers railed against elites and uplifted the oppressed — a far cry from their recent efforts to elect right-wing populists like Donald Trump. There are deep contradictions at the heart of Pentecostalism, and they aren’t resolved yet.
Elon Musk Might Make It Worse, but Twitter Was Already Bad
Many fear that Twitter under Elon Musk will fall to bigots and harassers. Maybe. But instead of arguing over who should be kicked off Twitter, we should ask what it’s designed to do to those who stay on it.
Disney’s Affordable Housing Plan Is Self-Interest, Not Socialism
Conservatives are convinced that Disney is trying to implement a radical left agenda. But even with its altruistic-seeming new housing development for workers, the company is just looking out for the bottom line.
Sorry Grimes, Your Ex-Boyfriend Won’t Save Us
The avant-garde pop star Grimes has made a heel turn away from left-wing politics toward the Silicon Valley libertarianism of her ex Elon Musk. She calls herself “a bit of a socialist, but not economically.” Let’s just call her a manic pixie dream capitalist.