All articles from Jacobin
It’s Easy to Imagine a World Without ICE
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has only existed since 2003. There’s nothing extreme about the idea of disbanding the rogue agency. Even if a new president with better intentions inherits this san
Trump Is Proving Democratic Presidents Weren’t Powerless
When Barack Obama and Joe Biden occupied the White House, Democrats gave excuse after excuse about why they couldn’t take bold action. Donald Trump’s second-term rampage of executive power shows Democ
Why Keir Starmer Went to Bat for Israeli Football Hooligans
There’s nothing Britain’s political class likes more than a mob of football hooligans, so long as they’re Israeli. Now the Starmer government has moved to punish police officers for declining to accom
After Weeks of Violence, the Iranian State Hobbles On
Amid an internet blackout, reports describe waves of catastrophic violence across Iran. Yet the ruling order remains firmly in control, even as an economic crisis erodes the welfare systems that once
A Minneapolis Mom on the ICE Violence She’s Witnessed
Tackling teachers and spraying chemical agents on school property, ICE’s rampage through Minnesota is only getting more violent. Jacobin spoke with a Minneapolis parent about what she’s seen so far. R
The Tech Billionaires Behind Trump’s Greenland Push
Silicon Valley oligarchs like Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen have much to gain from Donald Trump’s seizure of Greenland, both as a source of rare earth minerals to feed the AI boom and as a site for
ICE Won’t Stop Shoving Guns in People’s Faces
Renee Good’s murder was the deadly culmination of the past year in which ICE and other federal agents pointed their guns and even shot at US citizens in dozens of cases around the country. An ICE offi
Behind Trump vs. Powell Is a Battle Over US Empire’s Future
After the 2008 crisis, the US set up a vast financial network offering liquidity to its allies. The ongoing clash between Jerome Powell and Donald Trump is partly about the future of this system and w
In New York City, 15,000 Nurses Are Still on Strike
Fifteen thousand nurses across 10 campuses in New York City’s three biggest hospital systems are on an open-ended strike. Nurses say employers are trying to undermine safe-staffing protections and dem
Gavin Newsom Is Backing California's Billionaires
Governor Gavin Newsom is siding with California’s billionaires against a proposed wealth tax to fund health care. Progressives like Ro Khanna are challenging him. Governor Gavin Newsom is raising mone
The Shady Contractors Training ICE Agents
A variety of shadowy private security and weapons firms have been tapped to provide firearms and combat training to ICE agents. They are among the many private entities lining up for their cut of the
Motorists’ Party Brings MAGA to Czech Politics
The Czech Republic’s new environment minister is leader of a pro–fossil fuel party called Motorists for Themselves. It’s part of a right-wing backlash in Europe, moving to kill off the EU’s Green Deal
ICE Has Become a Rogue Paramilitary
It’s time we see ICE as it already sees itself: a domestic army dispatched by the Trump administration to terrorize vulnerable people and violently intimidate political enemies into submission. The mu
A New Day for NYC Taxi Drivers Under Zohran Mamdani?
New York taxi drivers have long been mercilessly squeezed by the city, culminating in their 2021 hunger strike joined by Zohran Mamdani. Announcing a new taxi commissioner yesterday, Mayor Mamdani pro
The Fed Is Quietly Bailing Out Wall Street
The Federal Reserve has quietly delivered nearly half a trillion dollars to Wall Street with few strings attached over the past few months. These cash infusions could signal instability in the broader
Most Americans Condemn ICE’s Murder of Renee Good
When Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross shot Renee Good in the head last week, Republicans declared that Americans would overwhelmingly support the killing. In reality, the vast m
Right-Wing Dark Money Groups Want Regime Change in Iran
As Donald Trump threatens a military attack on Iran, shadowy conservative groups working to gut consumer protections and roll back abortion rights have also been pouring millions into influential thin
From the Ashes of the Arab Spring
Today marks 15 years since the overthrow of Tunisian dictator Ben Ali, one of the high points of the Arab Spring. The events of 2011 gave rise to an impressive wave of revolutions. Almost all were blo
New York City Nurses Have Launched Their Biggest-Ever Strike
Nearly 15,000 nurses are now on strike at three New York City private sector hospitals, in the largest nurses’ strike the city has ever seen. Nurses say they are striking to end understaffing that bur
ICE Is on a Violent, Illegal, Immoral Rampage
ICE appears to be reveling in the hypocrisy and double standards that the Trump administration’s unqualified defense of their sickeningly violent and occasionally murderous behavior, against Renee Goo
Israel, From Genocide to Self-Destruction
The genocide in Gaza radicalizes Zionism’s long-standing colonial project. But Israeli leaders’ open rejection of any future possibility of a Palestinian state have undercut their own international le
RFK Jr’s New Food Pyramid Is Industry-Approved
The report behind Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s updated dietary guidelines didn’t eliminate food and pharmaceutical industry influence over Health and Human Services decisions. It did the exact opposite. The
Trump Needs War to Distract From His Domestic Failures
Donald Trump is making the United States’ affordability crisis worse and suffering historically low approval ratings. He is likely hoping wars abroad will divert the public’s attention from his domest
The Echoes of Ireland’s Bloody Sunday in Renee Good’s Murder
Like Renee Good’s murder in Minnesota, the Bloody Sunday massacre in Ireland was notable for both the blatancy of the crime, carried out in broad daylight, and the audacity of the lies pumped out from
Zohran Mamdani Is Right to Stand By Cea Weaver
The failed push to sink Zohran Mamdani’s appointment of tenant organizer Cea Weaver was an attempt to remove a highly effective advocate for renters, who landlords and the real estate industry hate be
On the Value of Putting Things in Plain Language
Emily Witt’s memoir begins with the Brooklyn and Berlin underground rave scenes and the appeal of subcultural escapism. What follows is a reckoning with the social conflicts of the present and journal
How October 7 Remade Jewish Politics in America
For decades, American Jews were assumed to be uncritical supporters of Israel. But Israel’s war in Gaza transformed Jewish politics in the US and irrevocably undermined the legitimacy of institutions
The Triumph and Tragedy of Russian Women
The first decades following the Russian Revolution saw enormous changes in women’s social role, but early promises of liberation were soon stifled. The record of women’s struggle is among the revoluti
In Defense of the New York City Transit Strike
Roger Toussaint, former president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, challenges the claim that New York’s last great transit strike weakened labor — and explains why its real legacy has been obscur
Real Abundance Requires Class Struggle
Today liberals lead the call for abundance. But if they really want to deliver plenty for all, they’ll need to confront the entrenched power of the capitalist class. Democrats have learned to embrace
We Ran Katie Wilson's Campaign. Here's What We Learned.
Seattle’s new socialist mayor, Katie Wilson, won with an authentic image, a strong social media presence, a dedicated and energetic volunteer base, a relentless focus on material issues over political
Iván Cepeda on the Risk of US Meddling in Colombia’s Election
Left-wing Colombian presidential candidate Iván Cepeda speaks to Jacobin about the accomplishments of Gustavo Petro, the US attack on Venezuela, and the Trump administration’s dangerous interventions
Britain’s Housing Reform Won’t Tackle the Crisis for Renters
A new piece of legislation will give private tenants in Britain more protection from arbitrary eviction. But without a major expansion of public housing, tenants will continue paying exorbitant rents
As Protests Engulf Iran, Israel Sees an Opportunity
The protests sweeping through Iran are not the first of their kind. But the threat of a continuation of the Israel-US war has led Tehran to see them as an existential threat. Iran has experienced mass
Zohran Mamdani Has Quickly Gotten Down to Business
In his first week as mayor, Zohran Mamdani issued 12 executive orders targeting housing, consumer protection, and democratic participation. His pace rebuts critics who have accused him of gauzy promis
Organized Labor Lambastes Trump’s Attack on Venezuela
Unions and international labor federations argue that it’s the same billionaires that want to run Venezuela who keep us working longer hours for less pay, without health care, job security, or stable
“Drink Up!” Says a Heavily Lobbied FDA
The Food and Drug Administration has relaxed guidelines on the health effects of alcohol consumption. Much more than any new scientific findings, the move reflects a yearslong lobbying effort by the a
The War on Drugs: A Pretext for Regime Change in Venezuela
For years, US leaders struggled with botched efforts to bring the opposition to power in Venezuela. Talk of the War on Drugs provided a justification for a more direct US assault, imposing regime chan
Zohran Mamdani Is Already Winning on Childcare
We’re less than two weeks into Zohran Mamdani’s mayoralty, and he has already notched an impressive victory on one of his key campaign promises: universal childcare. In his short time in office, Zohra
Keir Starmer Backs Trump’s Assault on Venezuela
The seizure of two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil is a further escalation of Donald Trump’s war policy. While British prime minister Keir Starmer denied involvement in the earlier attack on Caracas,
The Right Is Exploiting the Bondi Massacre to Silence Dissent
In the aftermath of the Bondi Massacre, Australian politicians are pushing to restrict freedom of speech and the right to protest. Their target is the Palestine solidarity movement. Zionist politician
Donald Trump’s Greenland Obsession Is Growing More Dangerous
When Donald Trump first started talking about turning Greenland into US property, he pretended to care about what its people would like to see happen. Trump and his associates are now dropping the pre
A Palestinian Family Tale Made Epic in <cite>All That’s Left of You</cite>
Cherien Dabis’s film All That’s Left of You follows one Palestinian family from the Nakba to 2022. More than the story of a single family, it’s the story of a common humanity persisting through the ni
Elon Musk’s Grok Has Friends in High Places
A former X executive behind Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot, now serving as US Patent Office chief AI officer, has received a “highly unusual” carveout that allows him to retain company shares while influenc
Big Oil’s Motives Behind the US Attack on Venezuela
In an interview, investigative journalist and oil policy analyst Antonia Juhasz weighs in on what the fossil fuel industry really wants in Venezuela and how the current situation compares to past wars
To Emulate Zohran, Rebuild Left Institutions
Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York has inspired the Left far beyond the city. But in Canada, as elsewhere, trying to replicate his style without rebuilding the institutions and political cadre that made
Don't Count On Trump’s Plan to Crack Down on Landlords
Donald Trump is acknowledging that corporate greed is a primary driver of America’s housing crisis and has claimed he’ll move toward banning large institutional investors from buying more single-famil
Trump’s Venezuela Actions Are About More Than Oil
Venezuela’s heavy crude is expensive to extract, it will take years of sustained investment to meaningfully lift output, and it may not even be profitable at current prices. The current aggression is
After Venezuela, Greenland Is Next in Trump’s Firing Line
European leaders’ muted response to the illegal attack on Venezuela showed how afraid they are of antagonizing Washington. Now they fear Donald Trump’s plans to seize Greenland, but they have no clear
Trump May Be a Liar, but Starmer Is a Coward
Following the Trump administration’s unprovoked attack on Venezuela, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has done his best to cement the UK’s status as a vassal of the United States. Keir Starmer is doing his
ICE Shot a Woman Dead — Then Lied About What Happened
Renee Good’s death wasn’t an accident or self-defense. It was the predictable result of a militarized deportation force operating with impunity on American streets. People gather at a makeshift memori
Claire Valdez Is a Socialist and Union Organizer Running for Congress
Socialist state assembly member and former UAW organizer Claire Valdez is running for Congress in New York’s 7th district. We spoke to her about the race, the right and wrong ways to fight Donald Trum
How Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign Crafted a Winning Message
We spoke to Zohran Mamdani’s campaign communications director, Andrew Epstein, about how a disciplined and creative message, mass canvassing, viral videos, and an end run around mainstream media helpe
Venezuela and the Long Shadow of the Monroe Doctrine
Critical historians like William Appleman Williams played a key role in highlighting the US’s imperial record in Latin America. Now Donald Trump has cut out the middleman, bluntly stating the US’s imp
Trump’s Tariffs Defeat Spells Long-Term Danger for the Left
Progressives celebrating the Supreme Court’s anticipated ruling against Donald Trump’s tariffs risk encouraging the consolidation of a dangerous legal doctrine that will be used to defeat their own ag
Corporate Lobbying and the US Attack on Venezuela
Over the past year, corporate actors who stand to benefit from US-backed regime change in Venezuela spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying the Trump administration, including over their econo
The Lies Behind the US’s Next Forever War
Donald Trump is leaning heavily on drug-trafficking accusations to justify his recent kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro. But a new congressional report has found that the vast majority of illegal drugs com
In Amsterdam, the Left Might Bicycle to Power
After years of organizing outside electoral politics, a new left formation in Amsterdam is running for city council. Its leaders argue that movements don’t need protest alone — they also need power. C
We’re Thinking About Addiction Entirely Wrong
One of the dominant ways of thinking about addiction is as a disease. While there is evidence for this approach, it often leads to a dismissal of addiction’s social causes, rooted in alienation and pu
The Generational Split Within Jewish Voters on Zohran Mamdani
If you take a closer look at the data, the generational differences within Jewish New York voters’ embrace of Zohran Mamdani looks a lot like the generational differences within black voters’ embrace
Capitalists Want You to Stop Worrying About Climate Change
In The Long Heat, Andreas Malm and Wim Carton take aim at what they call rationalist-optimists — people who naively believe that market solutions can fix the climate crisis. But their sweeping critiqu
AI-Led Growth Conceals an Economy Built on Debt and Inequality
Despite rising inequality, poor job numbers, and Donald Trump’s mass deportations, the economy grew by a remarkable 4.3% last year, mostly thanks to the AI industry. This success masks an economy high
No, It’s Not the US’s Hemisphere
Donald Trump speaks of an expanded Monroe Doctrine that asserts US domination across the Americas. Chilean ex-diplomat Jorge Heine told Jacobin about the need for a new nonaligned movement that can re
What Brazil’s January 8 Can Teach Us About January 6
In 2021, the January 6 Capitol attack exposed deep connections between the US state and far-right groups. When something similar happened in Brazil in 2023, it prompted a national attempt to reform th
Zohran Mamdani Is Right About the Warmth of Collectivism
The Right had a spectacular meltdown about Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration speech rejecting “rugged individualism” in favor of what he called the “warmth of collectivism.” But Mamdani is right that comm
Aijaz Ahmad’s Marxism Challenged India’s Hindutva Regression
Aijaz Ahmad belonged to a generation of South Asian left intellectuals who came of age in the heyday of anti-colonial revolution. He was an uncompromising opponent of the Hindutva right that betrayed
Turkey’s Brazil-Style Lawfare Means Harder Authoritarianism
In Brazil, the jailing of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva served a far-right takeover. The Turkish government is following the same playbook as it stifles the opposition. The Turkish govern
Bryan Johnson Is Silicon Valley’s Sexless Vampire Future
Bryan Johnson’s sexless brand of “wellness vampirism” is the perfect metaphor for Silicon Valley. It’s a utopian promise of a limitless future disguising a brutal, extractive reality that leaves us al
Digital Robbery Scams Are on the Rise
Financial fraud has exploded in the past few years, with consumers reporting more than $12.5 billion in losses in 2024. President Donald Trump’s deregulatory agenda isn’t helping. ACH fraud is becomin
Corporations Are Ready to Cash In on Venezuela
Before Donald Trump’s capture of Nicolás Maduro, corporations filed lawsuits against Venezuela seeking damages tied to state nationalization, international sanctions, and political instability. A Trum
Jessica Mitford Had Every Reason to Side With Power and Refused
Jessica Mitford was born the child of aristocrats and the sister of fascists who celebrated the rise of Adolf Hitler. But she betrayed her class to become a communist, embedding herself in the life of
Trump Has Tried This — and Failed — in Venezuela Before
Nothing about Donald Trump’s brazenly illegal actions against Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro suggests that the American ruling class has learned any lessons from US imperial overreach and failure
The US Is a Weakened and Dangerous Empire
The kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is a crude act of Trumpian aggression. Yet it also illustrates the US leadership’s weakness, as it moves to lock down control of the Western Hemis
Inside Venezuela’s Response to Donald Trump’s Attack
A former Venezuelan diplomat speaks to Jacobin about how the state, military, and popular forces are responding to US military aggression — and what comes next. Supporters of Nicolás Maduro and the la
Trump's War on Latin America Must Be Stopped
The attack on Venezuela signals a new phase of US power in Latin America — one defined by coercion, intimidation, and open-ended intervention. The move against Venezuela signals a decisive turn in US
The Fake Antiwar Right Goes to War
Venezuela is only the opening salvo in a blatantly imperial project aimed at crushing the Latin American left. The Trump administration didn’t even bother to manufacture consent for regime change in V
America’s Ties to Israel Might Lead It to War With Iran
Donald Trump is once again threatening war with Iran just six months after bombing the Islamic Republic in June. Part of the reason for his hawkishness is his closeness to Israel, whose increasingly r
Killer Robots and the Fetish of Automation
Fear of killer robots has obscured a deeper shift in warfare: The fetish of automation masks the commodification of combat judgment. Corporate software reshapes war while preserving just enough proced
In Britain, Palestine Action Prisoners Starve for Freedom
Jailed Palestine Action activists in Britain have been on hunger strike for eight weeks already. They are being treated as terrorists, even though they have committed no violent crime. Britain’s gover