Jordan Peele’s Nope Is a Triumph
Writer-director Jordan Peele’s mysterious third film, Nope, draws on genre tropes from both alien invasion films and Westerns, but it ends up with something altogether original: a Hollywood spectacle about spectacle.
Blog
The Internet Doesn’t Have to Be This Bad
The internet feels like an antisocial, dystopian wasteland. Capitalism made it this way. But if we can pry the web out of the hands of the profit motive, we can build a better internet.
Joe Manchin’s Deal Does Not Mean the Fight for Democrats’ Agenda Is Over
Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin have reached a deal for an energy, health care, and tax policy bill after Manchin has delayed and watered it down. But the exact details of the bill, as well as its passage, are still far from guaranteed.
We Should Have Listened to Bernie Sanders About Ukraine
In early February, Bernie Sanders advocated US involvement in peace talks to head off an “enormously destructive war” in Ukraine. We should have listened.
The Biden-Manchin Climate Bill Isn’t Very Good, but It’s All We’ve Got
Biden’s climate bill is better than nothing — but just barely. “It’s a renewable energy revolution on top of a fossil fuel build-out,” says one climate advocate: in other words, a historic clean energy investment chained to a fossil fuel giveaway.
How Italy’s Far Right Fell in Love With the United States
In 1945, Italian fascists saw US forces as occupiers, not liberators. Yet in postwar decades, neofascists sought to insert themselves into the Western anti-communist alliance: an “Atlanticism” that continues to inspire the far right today.
Under Capitalism, the Colonization of Space Means the Destruction of Earth
Over 50 years ago, German philosopher Günther Anders warned that space travel was in danger of being used for power and profit. Against the “provincialism” of space capitalism, he wanted the view of outer space to meaningfully expand our horizons on Earth.
Congressmembers Constantly Violate Job Disclosure Ethics Laws Before Leaving Congress
After retiring from Congress, many lawmakers go on to lucrative gigs as corporate lobbyists or lawyers. They're required by law to notify a congressional ethics committee when they begin negotiating for a new job — but next to none of them do.
Wall Street Doesn’t Have to Rule Our Cities
Municipal bonds once allowed cities to quickly fundraise for important infrastructure and public housing projects. We should organize against today’s system of bondholder supremacy, which enables investors to extract tax-free profits from communities.
Democrats Are Trying to Block Green Party Ballot Access in North Carolina
The Democratic Party is trying to deny the Green Party access to the ballot in North Carolina. I’m not a Green Party supporter, but I'm a plaintiff in a lawsuit fighting back, because Democrats are trying to stamp out democracy in my state.
Peter Thiel Wants You to Think He’s an Evil Genius. He’s Just a Rich Guy.
Venture capitalist Peter Thiel’s massive wealth and resulting political influence are symptoms of a profoundly unequal society. But don’t buy into his “evil genius” self-branding. His ideology isn’t a dark enigma — it’s just run-of-the-mill rich guy stuff.
The Democratic Establishment Is Fighting the Left and Funding the Right
As they do their best to keep the Left weak, Democrats have spent more than $40 million in 2022 to support far-right Republican candidates.