Daniel Ellsberg, American Hero
Few have contributed as much to resisting the horrors of war and the accompanying undemocratic regime of secrecy as Daniel Ellsberg, who died today at age 92.
Blog
For Fossil Fuel Company Suncor, Stock Buybacks Come Before Environmental Cleanup
While Suncor has failed to make basic improvements to a Commerce City, Colorado, refinery that is polluting the area, the company has massively increased payouts to shareholders — at the urging of one of the world’s largest hedge funds.
Architects Are Starting to See Themselves as Workers — and Organizing Unions
Though architects have long been seen as privileged creative professionals, they are finding themselves in increasingly de-skilled and exploitative work environments. It’s no wonder that they’re starting to unionize.
The Supreme Court Doesn’t Have the Final Say on Student Debt
If the Supreme Court rules against Joe Biden on student debt, it will be a major blow. But there is a more straightforward path for Biden to unilaterally forgive a lot of student debt.
There’s No Institutional Quick Fix to the Problem of Donald Trump
Institutions can’t stop Donald Trump — but democratic politics can.
Canada’s Wildfires Are Out of Control Because of Cuts to Firefighting Budgets
As wildfires burn across Canada, the struggle to contain the damage has intensified for fire crews. The severe cuts to emergency fire services in recent years, driven by right-wing policies, have led to a failure to prepare for this crisis.
Dorothy Thompson Was One of Britain’s Great Socialist Historians
Dorothy Thompson’s work on Chartism secured her reputation as one of the finest Marxist historians Britain has produced. She displayed a particular sensitivity to gender issues and encouraged creative dialogue between Marxist and feminist currents.
Pundits Keep Predicting China’s Imminent Collapse — and Keep Getting It Wrong
Frank Dikötter is the best-selling popular historian of China today. In his latest work on the post-Mao years, Dikötter joins a long line of those predicting the speedy demise of the Chinese system, letting ideology get in the way of analysis.
Why Political Strategy Needs Karl Marx
In recent years, the grand questions of strategy that once animated the Left have found a new home in the world of business and management. But strategy is an essential component of political activity, and it needs a Marxist analysis at its core.
Austria’s Bernie Sanders Beat the Establishment and Became Party Leader
For years, Austria’s Social Democrats have embraced the values of the free market and lost ever more working-class votes. Now, left-winger Andreas Babler has surged to the party leadership — and promises to transform his country’s politics.
Conservatives Say the Justice System Has Been Weaponized. Cop City Proves Them Right.
In the wake of the Trump indictments, conservatives are concerned that the justice system is being used to target political enemies. They’re right about that — but as the repression of Cop City protesters shows, they’re wrong about who the real targets are.
How a Grotesque Mediocrity Like Boris Johnson Became Britain’s Prime Minister
Boris Johnson stepped down as an MP last week. The entitlement typical of Britain’s privately educated elite defined his career, but he added to it a unique brand of dishonesty and opportunism.