Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 Misfires
Bong Joon-ho’s follow-up to Parasite is another darkly comic satire of our capitalist hellscape. But even with Robert Pattinson and sharp lefty themes, Mickey 17’s comedy is cringe and its pace glacial.
19064 Articles by: Ryan Switzer
Ryan Switzer is a PhD candidate in sociology at Stockholm University. He researches right-wing politics in welfare states.
Donald Trump Has Given Canada a Wake-Up Call
Canada’s economic and military dependence on the United States has long led its elites to believe that they could never be the victims of American aggression. Donald Trump’s tariffs have disproved this received wisdom.
A Museum Worthy of Spain’s Democratic Transition
In the late 1970s, nationalist vigilantes tried to destroy Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. Today the painting itself is safe — but the museum in which it is housed has again become the focus of right-wing polemics.
The Hindutva-MAGA Alliance
At the dawn of a second Trump era, American Hindu supremacists are increasingly aligning themselves with the MAGA far right.
Canada’s Incoming Prime Minister Is a Banker
Mark Carney, Canada’s incoming prime minister, is a former banker with no political experience. His technocratic centrism is ill-suited for an era of populism and political upheaval, making a Liberal victory in the looming election far from certain.
Noam Chomsky and the Socialist Alternative to Climate Chaos
Noam Chomsky’s best-known political contribution is his powerful, long-running critique of US foreign policy. But Chomsky has also used his global platform to sound the alarm about the climate crisis and chart a path away from disaster.
Labor, Faith, and the Power of Collective Action
The Christian left in the United States once wove solidarity into the fabric of social change, uniting diverse movements under a common cause. Drawing on this ethos could help anchor today’s struggles to bridge divisions and build collective power.
The Meaning of Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan built his empire by presenting himself as an entertaining, independent commentator. He gave it up for the 2024 election.
Europe’s Shameful Role in the War in Congo
European countries are stepping up military aid and economic investment in Rwanda, said to be an ally in keeping order in the region. The reality: Rwanda’s authoritarian government is massively destabilizing eastern Congo by backing rebel forces.
Trump’s Tariff Threats Have Made Mexico’s President Stronger
Donald Trump’s tariff threats have only made Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, even more popular — her approval rating now stands at 85%.
Mahmoud Khalil Is a Victim of Trump’s Free-Speech Crackdown
The detention and possible deportation of former Columbia University student and pro-Palestine organizer Mahmoud Khalil is the most serious attack on the First Amendment by any president in years.
The Far Right Is a Lucrative Market for Book Publishers
The publishers that dominate the book trade have all created special imprints that cater to ultraconservative readers. They don’t want their brands associated with racism and misogyny, but they’re happy to profit from this growing ideological niche.
We Can’t Talk About Climate Without Talking About Capitalism
For decades, a technocratic approach has predominated within the environmental movement. Adam Hanieh, an expert on oil and Middle Eastern history, argues that solutions to the climate crisis must also confront capitalism and imperialism.
France’s “War Economy” Is a Prelude to Cutting the Welfare State
In recent months, Emmanuel Macron insisted on the need to slash public debt, yet now he calls for huge military spending. The call to remilitarize has become the center of the French president’s agenda — and offers a pretext for even further cuts to welfare.
We Can Organize Amazon, but Only If We Understand It
Organizing Amazon workers is both an existential challenge and an opportunity for labor. But the company’s cash advantages and operational flexibility mean that traditional union tactics won’t be enough. We need strategies that combine disruption and scale.
The Meaning of Kony 2012
The Kony 2012 campaign pioneered a new form of online activism — one that served empire more than the people it claimed to help.
The Race for the Arctic Is Undermining Indigenous Rights
The Arctic region is becoming a theater for competition between states over its resources and geopolitical advantages. This is having a deeply harmful impact on the indigenous peoples of the Arctic, whose way of life doesn’t fit in with state borders.
Trump Tramples Free Speech to Shut Down Palestine Protests
Donald Trump and his allies are claiming to restore “free speech” in America even as they yank federal funding from Columbia University to punish student protesters. They were never serious about defending free speech.
IVF Patients Might Be Getting Scammed by Private Equity
IVF patients say they’ve faced pressure to perform expensive genetic tests on their embryos as private equity firms buy up fertility clinics across the US. A new class action lawsuit alleges that the benefits of these tests were greatly exaggerated.
Fighting “Waste” Is an Age-Old Alibi for Austerity
Donald Trump is using the idea of stopping “waste, fraud, and abuse” as an excuse for drastic austerity. The rhetorical strategy has a long history in the US — stretching back to Southern elites’ push to delegitimize Reconstruction as a cash grab.