Economy

Working-Class Wins—Plus, Hot Rod Racing Working-Class Wins—Plus, Hot Rod Racing

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Harold Meyerson reports on recent union victories, and Rachel Kushner talks about nostalgia dragsters.

Start Making Sense / Jon Wiener

Biden’s Legacy on Cuba Biden’s Legacy on Cuba

On the 10th anniversary of Obama’s opening, the outgoing president should take immediate action because it is good for the US, good for the Cuban people—and the right thing to do….

Peter Kornbluh

It Would Be Idiotic to Make Mitch McConnell the Face of Anti-Trump Resistance It Would Be Idiotic to Make Mitch McConnell the Face of Anti-Trump Resistance

Countering imaginary isolationism, the outgoing Senate Republican leader advocates a return to Cold War militarism.

Jeet Heer

Policy

Partners for peace? Trump meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 2019. Instead of attacking Trump’s diplomatic initiatives as “weak,” Democrats should support negotiations.

Progressives Can’t Afford to Spend the Next 4 Years Just Playing Defense Progressives Can’t Afford to Spend the Next 4 Years Just Playing Defense

Or reflexively denouncing every Trump policy. While we mustn’t underestimate the danger he poses to our democracy, when he says he wants to end war, the left should call his bluff…

Matthew Duss

Will the president use his remaining time in office to make good on his promise? He still can—if he wants to.

It’s Still Not Too Late for Biden to Deliver Debt Relief It’s Still Not Too Late for Biden to Deliver Debt Relief

Four years after hearing the president promise bold action on student debt, most borrowers are still no better off, and many—especially defrauded debtors—are measurably worse off….

Astra Taylor

Workers in red “Fight for $15” T-shirts standing next to each other with locked arms, in front of a banner reading “Whatever It Takes.”

Why Democrats Are Losing Americans Without a College Degree—and How to Win Them Back Why Democrats Are Losing Americans Without a College Degree—and How to Win Them Back

Voters intuitively know that the economy has not worked well for most of us for decades. Democrats must offer them a transformative vision, and stick to it for as long as it takes…

Neil Kraus and Jon Shelton

Labor

David Montgomery and the Vitality of Labor History David Montgomery and the Vitality of Labor History

From his first book to his landmark account of the politics of the pre-WWI labor movement, Montgomery explored how people’s experiences of work shaped their political horizons.

Books & the Arts / Kim Phillips-Fein

Why Democrats Are Losing Americans Without a College Degree—and How to Win Them Back Why Democrats Are Losing Americans Without a College Degree—and How to Win Them Back

Voters intuitively know that the economy has not worked well for most of us for decades. Democrats must offer them a transformative vision, and stick to it for as long as it takes…

Neil Kraus and Jon Shelton

Why Bidenomics Was Such a Bust Why Bidenomics Was Such a Bust

A large majority of voters gave the Biden administration a failing grade on the economy. For the sake of future policy battles, it is worthwhile to try to understand their reasons…

James K. Galbraith

This Solar Panel Kills Fascists This Solar Panel Kills Fascists

New York’s Build Public Renewables Act will reduce carbon in the atmosphere, combat inequality, and help workers. It might also defeat Trumpism.

Gabriel Hetland

The Score

Georgia’s Disastrous Medicaid Work Requirements

Georgia’s Disastrous Medicaid Work Requirements Georgia’s Disastrous Medicaid Work Requirements

Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, said that 345,000 people would enroll in the state’s Medicaid program, which has strict work requirements—so far just 5,118 have.

Column / Bryce Covert

Every Schoolchild Should Eat Free

Every Schoolchild Should Eat Free Every Schoolchild Should Eat Free

Full bellies lead to attentive minds.

Bryce Covert

Raising the Minimum Wage Comes Cheap

Raising the Minimum Wage Comes Cheap Raising the Minimum Wage Comes Cheap

Studies overwhelmingly show that the effect of increasing the minimum wage on employment rates is basically zero.

Bryce Covert

Latest in Economy

The Financialization of Modern Media

The Financialization of Modern Media The Financialization of Modern Media

On this episode of American Prestige, Andrew deWaard on his book Derivative Media: How Wall Street Devours Culture.

Dec 17, 2024 / Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

The Making of a Medical Care Crisis

The Making of a Medical Care Crisis The Making of a Medical Care Crisis

Over the past decade, Massachusetts witnessed the slow death of its largest hospital chain, leaving the largest and most diverse neighborhood in Boston without essential care.

Dec 16, 2024 / StudentNation / Annika Inampudi

The pure products of America: Roy Cohn and Donald Trump at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, DC, on March 20, 1983.

Donald Trump Is the Authentic American Berserk Donald Trump Is the Authentic American Berserk

Far from being an alien interloper, the incoming president draws from homegrown authoritarianism.

Dec 13, 2024 / Jeet Heer

The Chinatown Friendship Gate in Philadelphia.

The “Save Chinatown” Coalition Goes on the Defensive in Philadelphia The “Save Chinatown” Coalition Goes on the Defensive in Philadelphia

The construction of a new basketball arena threatens to fill the neighborhood with more traffic and raise rents.

Dec 12, 2024 / StudentNation / Amber X. Chen and Lucy Tobier

No, They Couldn’t: In a recent appearance on Pod Save America the consultants who steered the Kamala Harris campaign to defeat still refused to accept any responsibility—or to criticize the candidate.

No, Kamala Harris Staffers Did Not Run a “Flawless” Campaign No, Kamala Harris Staffers Did Not Run a “Flawless” Campaign

Democratic strategists are still patting themselves on the back for a catastrophic defeat.

Dec 10, 2024 / Jeet Heer

Congresswoman Barbara Lee on Why Shirley Chisholm Was Right

Congresswoman Barbara Lee on Why Shirley Chisholm Was Right Congresswoman Barbara Lee on Why Shirley Chisholm Was Right

The California Democrat explains why, during her 25 years in Congress, it was important for her “to disrupt and dismantle and build something that’s equitable and just and right.”…

Dec 9, 2024 / Q&A / John Nichols

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