Political scientists are discovering something that today’s Democrats refuse to understand: social policy is about more than technocratic tinkering — it defines who counts as a full citizen. And means testing tears apart the very fabric of society.
The “UBI” ideas being thrown around as a response to the coronavirus are, in many cases, neither universal, basic, nor an income. But they do show how much the Left has shifted what’s considered possible over the past decade.
Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialists of America–backed candidate for New York’s state assembly, has officially won his race. His campaign shows us what a serious socialist electoral bid looks like: class-conscious politics, an uncompromising program, and deep face-to-face organizing. There should be many more like it.
For decades, austerity-minded politicians have bashed universal programs by concern trolling about the danger that a handful of rich people would get them. The urgency of the pandemic is helping people realize just how inconsequential this hang-up is compared to the advantages of universal benefits.
In the United States of 2020, millions are desperate for help, and they’re forced to compete for scraps from Twitter philanthropists.
This year's Pritzker Prize, the highest award in architecture, went to French architects who rejected the demolition of public housing. Instead, the architects insisted on renovating and expanding public units to make working-class residents' homes more modern, humane, and attractive.
During the Vietnam War, the city of Vinh was almost destroyed by US bombing. Socialists around the world helped rebuild it. Today, Vinh's architecture stands as a monument to that internationalist solidarity.
Beneath the strings and sequins, the Sound of Philadelphia was the backing track to the economic crisis that hit black America in the 1970s.
Effective altruist Peter Singer argues that individuals should do more to alleviate the world’s poverty. But his emphasis on giving to charity disregards the structural causes of inequality, suggesting that nothing fundamental can be changed.
A New York Times investigation has uncovered a scam by which food service workers are made to pay out of pocket for state-mandated “safety” courses run by the restaurant lobby — which then turns around and spends millions of dollars pushing lawmakers to keep food service workers’ wages low.
The Catholic Church is responsible for a litany of injustices. But the glorious tradition of liberation theology can’t be forgotten.
Although he had a conservative reputation in his earlier years, Pope Francis used his role as a world religious leader to campaign against poverty and social oppression, directly challenging the appropriation of Christianity by figures like J. D. Vance.
Advocating private charity instead of public aid, neoliberals in Britain are threatening to take the country back to the Victorian era.
Philanthropists like Howard Buffett are the darlings of journalists and the NGO world — but are they really helping Africa?
Fifty-four years ago today, Medicare became the law of the land. The program has been massively successful despite continued efforts to destroy it. While defending Medicare, our next step is clear: Medicare for All.
Rising from the ruins of World War I, in the 1920s Vienna’s socialist administration was famous for its innovative housing and public health programs. But at the heart of “Red Vienna” were its services for children, guaranteeing that even the poorest young people could share in the joys of childhood — and the foundations of a fulfilling life.
A movement defending working-class interests isn’t just about what happens at work, but also about the places where we live. A labor movement fight against evictions can break the power of landlords to ruin our lives — and make the case for why we all deserve affordable, quality housing.
Seeking refuge from Israel’s genocide in Gaza, some Palestinians have made the perilous journey to Egypt. Torn between the desperate need for safety and the uncertain future that awaits them back home, some of them shared their stories with us.
Telemarketing firms operating on behalf of political action committees are claiming to raise money to support police departments. But instead of actually funding the police, the alleged fraudster behind the scam is pocketing millions.
The Canada Revenue Agency has officially revoked the charitable status of the Jewish National Fund, a committed supporter of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The move marks a significant victory for Palestine solidarity activists.