RIP James Earl Jones
Few American acting careers have made such lasting impressions on so many as James Earl Jones’s.
19797 Articles by: Ryan Switzer
Ryan Switzer is a PhD candidate in sociology at Stockholm University. He researches right-wing politics in welfare states.
Barred From Government, France’s Left Seeks a Way Forward
Saturday saw protests across France after Emmanuel Macron named conservative Michel Barnier as prime minister. The decision fueled claims that Macron had ignored July’s election result — but has also put the victorious left-wing alliance on the back foot.
Democrats Don’t Need to Back Fracking to Win Pennsylvania
Kamala Harris has come out against a fracking ban, in line with the media narrative that voters in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania love fracking. But public support for the environmentally destructive practice in the state is thin and on the decline.
An Uncommitted Cofounder Explains the Movement’s Strategy
We spoke with Uncommitted movement cofounder Abbas Alawieh about the movement’s accomplishments at the DNC, the potential disaster of a Trump presidency for Palestine, and Uncommitted’s vision to change the Democratic Party’s support for slaughter in Gaza.
Dark Money Advocates Want Tax Breaks for Campaign Donations
A new lawsuit backed by Trump-linked operatives seeks to make dark money donations tax-deductible. The rich already face no spending limits on influencing elections and, if successful, the suit could turbocharge dark money in politics.
Meet the Viral Housing Activist Running for Australian Senate
Jordie van den Lamb, better known by social media handle “purplepingers,” has warmed the hearts of renters worldwide with his uncompromisingly deadpan war on landlords. Now he’s taking the fight to their Australian headquarters, Parliament House.
Who’s Afraid of Mexican Democracy?
Mexico’s judiciary is infamous for favoring oligarchs and other unsavory interests. MORENA’s judicial reforms aim to fix this by introducing democratic elections for judges — a move that has the US and global business elites in a panic.
A Different Way of Being a Man
Two masculinities are on display among the VP candidates: J. D. Vance’s, rooted in reactionary domination, and Tim Walz’s, embracing kindness and warmth. If the latter is used to challenge the status quo, it could effectively push back on MAGA-style manhood.
The Robots Are Coming for Our Souls
The problem with artificial intelligence isn’t that robots will replace us at work but that they will make us less human.
Serbia Is a Showcase of Authoritarian Neoliberalism
Western media coverage often presents Serbia under Aleksandar Vučić as a Russian puppet state. In reality, Vučić has been playing both sides in the new Cold War while applying the same neoliberal policies that hold sway in the West.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Is a Sweetly Satirical Delight
After a dreary sojourn through several terrible films, director Tim Burton’s delightful new Beetlejuice joint proves that you can go home again.
The Left Needs a Real Strategy for a Harris Presidency
As he campaigns for Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders is laying out a progressive agenda for 2025. It’s a program that a Harris administration could conceivably get behind, but Sanders and his allies need a way to force it to do so.
How Former East Germany Became Home to the Far Right
The anti-immigrant Alternative für Deutschland made big gains in Germany’s state elections this Sunday. The grim outcome shows how the wounds of reunification are pitching eastern regions toward the far right.
Israel Keeps Killing US Citizens. Joe Biden Doesn’t Care.
Compare the response to Israel’s murder of a US citizen in the West Bank to the response to Hamas’s killing of a US citizen hostage last week, and the takeaway is clear: arming Israel is more important to Joe Biden than even the life of an American.
In Rachel Kushner’s New Novel, a Spy Infiltrates the Left
In Rachel Kushner’s fourth novel, Creation Lake, a world-weary spy infiltrates a leftist commune. Hoping to entrap its leaders, she ends up being consumed by the strain of living a double life.
A Thousand Tennessee Autoworkers Just Joined the UAW
Workers at Ultium’s Spring Hill electric vehicle plant, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution of Korea, have unionized. It’s the latest case of the UAW’s Big Three strike bearing fruit.
A Leftist Analysis of Antisemitism
Disingenuous antisemitism charges are keeping left-wing critics of Israel on the back foot. Meanwhile, right-wing antisemitism is rising. Rather than play defense, the Left should advance an analysis of antisemitism that doesn’t conflate Jews with Israel.
Michel Barnier Is in Office, Marine Le Pen Will Hold Power
Emmanuel Macron has appointed Michel Barnier as France’s prime minister, after securing Marine Le Pen’s agreement. The creation of a government reliant on her blessing is another step in the far right’s march toward power.
Big Pharma Is a Big Menace to Global Health
Pharmaceutical companies claim their profits are necessary for vital medical research, but it’s public investment that funds the research before private firms gobble up the benefits through patent monopolies.
Who Are New York City’s Worst Bosses?
The New York City comptroller’s office has launched a useful new tool for the public: a database detailing the city’s worst bosses and their various labor abuses, along with an accompanying “Employer Wall of Shame.”