The Class War at Walmart
CEOs at companies like Walmart and McDonald’s continue to pull down multimillion-dollar salaries while their workers’ wages stagnate. And the whole system is underwritten by what amounts to a massive public subsidy.
19372 Articles by: Tanner Howard
Tanner Howard is a freelance journalist and In These Times editorial intern. They’re also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Stephen Kotkin’s Stalin Is a Distorting Mirror of the Russian Revolution
Stephen Kotkin aspires to give us the definitive picture of Stalin — and to bury socialism with his crimes. But Kotkin’s political outlook, neglect of ideas, and addiction to hindsight warp his presentation of Russian and Soviet history, undermining his entire project.
Meatpacking Bosses in Iowa Allegedly Organized a Betting Pool on How Many Workers Would Get COVID
A new lawsuit charges that bosses at an Iowa meatpacking plant set up a game to bet on how many workers there would contract COVID. The tyranny and cruelty of the American workplace knows no bounds.
The Labour Party’s Membership Is in Revolt Against Keir Starmer
All across Britain last night, local Labour Parties passed motions opposing Keir Starmer’s decision to deny Jeremy Corbyn the Labour whip — the broadest rebellion against Starmer’s leadership to date. A civil war within Labour is escalating.
The Mexican Revolution Is Not Dead
The Mexican Revolution erupted 110 years ago today, as ordinary Mexicans rebelled against despotism and inequality. Before it was over, the country’s agrarian oligarchy had been destroyed.
Brazil’s Recent Election Was a Blow to Jair Bolsonaro
The political situation in Brazil remains quite reactionary, even after Jair Bolsonaro’s party lost ground in Sunday’s election. But the far-right president’s violent agenda took a hit — and that’s worth celebrating.
Elder Care Should Not Be About Making Profits
COVID-19 has exposed the catastrophic failure of Ontario’s private long-term care facilities. We urgently need a system of elder care that’s universal and publicly funded.
Biden’s Immigration Moves Are Making a Mockery of His Vow to “Heal the Nation’s Soul”
Joe Biden’s most consistent pledge since launching his campaign in 2019 has been to “heal the soul of the nation” after four years of Donald Trump. Yet on immigration, he’s already signaling alarming continuity with the most outwardly racist part of Trump’s agenda.
Joe Biden Should Take a Hard Look at What Obama Did in 2009 — And Do Exactly the Opposite
The incoming Biden administration risks repeating the catastrophic policy failures of the past decade. Deficit cutting won’t help ordinary Americans struggling amid the crisis — but direct relief and increased federal spending will.
Anna Seghers, a Writer Who Defended the Wretched of the Earth
Born this day in 1900, Anna Seghers was one of Germany’s great modern writers, an internationalist and anti-fascist through the darkest hours in German history. Her works are a monument to the dignity of the oppressed.
Tucker Carlson Calls Himself a Populist. He Has No Problem Taking Private Equity Money.
Tucker Carlson pitches himself as a tribune of the people. But new documents reveal that he and other media elites get paid top dollar to speak at fancy conferences hosted by private equity firms, some of the most rapacious, anti-worker actors in American capitalism.
Canceling Student Debt Is Very Good. Biden Won’t Do It Unless We Make Him.
Joe Biden is backing a minuscule student debt relief plan that would leave millions in debt while giving private lenders a bailout. We need to abolish all student debt, plain and simple.
The Success of the Australian Greens in Queensland Shows the Power of Organization
In Queensland’s recent state election, the Australian Greens doubled their representation — proving that a clear left-wing platform, backed up by patient organizing, can build an alternative to neoliberal politics.
The COVID Vaccine Must Be Universally Available. Anything Less Is Immoral.
It appears that an effective COVID-19 vaccine may be on the horizon. But the profit-making of Big Pharma is threatening what should be a basic principle: that the vaccine is universally available, not just in rich countries but across the Global South.
The Rise of Hindu Nationalism and the Failures of the Indian Left
India’s once-powerful left-wing movements are facing the gravest challenge in their history as Narendra Modi’s ultranationalist party consolidates its grip on power. This moment of crisis calls for a wholesale rethink of theory and strategy by Indian socialists.
Nigeria’s #EndSARS Protests Aren’t Just Opposing Police Brutality — They’re Opposing Neoliberalism
The #EndSARS movement has convulsed Nigeria for weeks, demanding an end to police brutality. But the protesters have something else in their crosshairs: the unequal, austerity-ridden status quo and the political class that defends it.
The Last Thing the Economy Needs Is Joe Biden’s Austerity
Joe Biden represents something now rare in American politics: he’s a dyed-in-the-wool true believer in austerity and deficit reduction. To climb out of our current economic hole, we’ll need massive public investment and income support — but if current patterns hold, Biden will opt for austerity and half-measures instead.
The Problem With “Privacy”
The governments and corporations that spy on us would like nothing better than for us to remain lone individuals, tasked with protecting our own data and privacy. Only collective action can secure civil liberties.
Meatpacking Workers With COVID-19 Symptoms Are Still Being Forced to Work
Throughout the pandemic, the meatpacking industry has treated its workers as disposable. And even now, as cases spike again, workers are being forced to show up even if they could be sick with COVID-19.
Joe Biden Just Appointed His Climate Movement Liaison. It’s a Fossil Fuel Industry Ally.
Joe Biden says confronting climate change is one of his top priorities. But today, he appointed as his liaison to the climate movement a congressman who has raked in big money from the fossil fuel industry while voting to help oil and gas companies.