Bootstrap Populism
Rallying behind “free enterprise” mythology, American capitalists have long claimed to be gritty underdogs facing off against a rising statism.
Search Result(s) for: “Elizabeth Warren ”
The Fed Insisted Silicon Valley Bank Posed No Risk to the Financial System
In 2021, the Fed approved a merger application from Silicon Valley Bank with Boston Private Bank and Trust, believing that the newly enlarged institution presented no danger to the financial system. After SVB’s collapse, the Fed is changing its tune.
Tucker Carlson Is a Repugnant, Pseudo-Populist Fraud
Tucker Carlson likes to posture as a bold populist truth-teller. But when push comes to shove, he sides with the ruling class and bosses, not workers.
Many People Are Saying It: Corporate Greed Is Stoking Inflation
Even a year ago, the idea that corporate price gouging played a major role in the inflation crisis was a crazy, left-wing talking point. Now it’s the claim of central bankers and mainstream economists.
The Military-Industrial Complex Has Never Been Worse
How bad has the military-industrial complex gotten? The arms industry donates tens of millions of dollars every election cycle, and the average taxpayer spends $1,087 per year on weapons contractors compared to just $270 for K-12 education.
Marianne Williamson: Democrats Need a “Genuine Economic Alternative” to Beat the GOP in 2024
In an interview, 2024 Democratic presidential contender Marianne Williamson discusses her criticisms of Joe Biden and the Democratic Party establishment.
The Debt Ceiling Crisis Is Laying Bare the Lies Both Parties Tell Their Voters
Democrats want you to believe their commander-in-chief is an ultraprogressive master negotiator. The GOP wants you to believe they’re a newly reborn party of the working class. The never-ending debt ceiling standoff reveals just how absurd both tales are.
In-N-Out — and the Whole California Business Lobby — Is Fighting a Landmark Climate Bill
California’s legislature is voting on a climate bill that would require companies — including fast-food giants like In-N-Out — to disclose the largely hidden indirect emissions involved in production and consumption. Big business is fighting it tooth and nail.
Joe Biden’s Student Debt Plan Didn’t Have to Be Such a Disaster
If the Supreme Court strikes down Joe Biden’s proposed student debt cancellation plan tomorrow, the president has other, smarter options to relieve student debtors.
Leftist Elected Officials Should Always Vote No on the Military Budget
It should be a matter of course that self-identified leftist and progressive members of Congress should vote down the annual bloated, dangerous, war-profiteer bonanza that is the military budget.
The Warner-Netflix Deal Is Worse Than You Think
Netflix is after far more than the Warner Bros. movie studio — it wants to destroy cinema as we know it.
Inequality Is Shortening American Lives
The US incarcerates more people than almost any country on Earth. Meanwhile, pharma executives, Wall Street bankers, and fossil fuel companies escape meaningful accountability for harms that have killed far more Americans than street crime ever has.
Ron DeSantis Is a Corporate America–Approved Fake Populist
Attempting to reanimate his unappealing presidential campaign, Florida governor Ron DeSantis last week presented a new faux-populist economic agenda, which frames corporate-friendly policies as a means to improve workers’ economic conditions.
The World of Our Grandchildren
Noam Chomsky discusses ISIS, Israel, climate change, and the kind of world future generations may inherit.
Striking Workers Should Be Eligible for Unemployment Insurance
Most workers in the US are barred from claiming unemployment benefits if they go on strike, penalizing them for exercising one of their most fundamental rights. New legislation in California and elsewhere is trying to rectify that injustice.
Striking Writer Alex O’Keefe: “A Culture of Solidarity Has Swept Hollywood”
The WGA strike is now in its fifth month. We spoke to Alex O’Keefe, former writer on FX’s The Bear, about the exhilarations and anxieties of striking and the fight to turn Hollywood into a place of solidarity and creativity rather than capitalist competition.
Laphonza Butler’s Work at Airbnb Betrayed Everything She Ever Stood For
Laphonza Butler, California’s newest senator, went from heading a major union to leading lobbying for Airbnb. In that position, she oversaw the company’s efforts to fight off local governments' regulations — directly exacerbating the US housing crisis.
California’s New Senator, Laphonza Butler, Is No Friend of the Left
Laphonza Butler, who was just sworn in to fill Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat, originally hailed from the labor movement. But her career has taken a sharp pro-corporate turn, including a stint acting on behalf of Uber against gig workers in California.
Democratic Socialist Politicians Are Leading the Charge for a Cease-Fire in Gaza
From the New York State Legislature to the halls of Congress, democratic socialist elected officials have been taking a brave stand against the bloodshed in Gaza — and calling for an immediate cease-fire.
Private Banks Are Trapping Their Customers, and They Want to Keep It That Way
A new federal rule would make it easier for consumers to shop around at different banks to look for better interest rates. Financial institutions are fighting the agency behind it tooth and nail.