Blog

The Filibuster Is Killing Democracy
Under the rules of the filibuster, a majority vote in the US Senate is far from enough to pass a law. It’s time to finally ditch this antiquated rule.

Govan Mbeki and the Modest Revolution
Govan Mbeki, who spent more than two decades in prison for his role in the struggle against apartheid, creatively applied Marxist ideas to South African society.
Trump’s Iran War Could Starve the World
Closing the Strait of Hormuz may cause a global food crisis on top of a global energy crisis.

Middle East Wars Are Still About Oil and Empire
What’s really behind Trump’s war on Iran?

Pedal to the Metal
Despite tariffs, Chinese electric vehicles are entering the European auto market at full throttle.
How Arizona Arms the Cartels
The drug trade in Mexico depends on lax gun laws in the United States.

Finland’s Ultranational Pastime
PastimeMeet pesäpallo, a surreal twist on baseball dreamed up by a right-wing, anti-communist Finn.

The Pantheon of Evil
Reactionary monuments have long been, and remain, part of the American landscape.

Pox Americana
In Hollywood blockbusters, corn-fed Americans tend to save the world from stand-ins for US geopolitical adversaries. Elsewhere, Americans play the bad guys.

Let Freedom Sing
The melody of “The Star-Spangled Banner” came from the anthem of the Anacreontic Society, a gentleman’s club formed by amateur musicians in 18th-century London. Francis Scott Key wasn’t the first to set different lyrics to the tune, and he wouldn’t be the last.