The “Make Me Do It” Myth
Politicians fear the disruptive power of a mobilized base, even when it helps them succeed.
Winter 2026
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Family Ties
We’re still living with the punitive politics of family values. A broader, universal vision can break its vise grip.
Shinzō Abe and the Future of Japanese Democracy
Under Abe, the Liberal Democratic Party waged a right-wing culture war and changed the terms of Japanese politics. The opposition will need to learn from his success to coalesce around a popular alternative.
Repression in Xi’s China
The tightening of state control over Hong Kong and Xinjiang reveal a consolidation of authority in Xi’s CCP, intent on stifling any signs of nonconformity.
The Price of Empire
U.S. elites are not victims of China and Germany’s export-oriented policies. They are engaged in the complex balancing act needed to maintain global hegemony.
The Desperate Need for an Immigration Overhaul
Biden could ease the suffering inflicted by his predecessors on migrants to the United States. But his administration is unlikely to resolve the structural injustices at the root of the immigration enforcement system.
Belabored: Stopping the Spread of Prop 22
California’s Proposition 22 locked in a second-tier status for gig economy workers. In the state and around the country, they’re still organizing for something better.
The Not-So-Strange Death of Right Populism
A string of pseudo-populist conservative movements have reverted to the same agenda of tax cuts and deregulation. Why should we expect anything different?
Don’t Blame “Defund”
We haven’t seen much to suggest that last summer’s uprising pushed persuadable voters to the Republican Party. And in a number of states, the protests ignited voter registration efforts that directly helped Democratic candidates.
Comforting Myths
The 2020 election wasn’t a decisive victory, and Trump and his supporters won’t disappear forever.
This Is Who We Are
The rioters at the Capitol are part of an unbroken American tradition. Sweet talk about our “better angels” did not defeat them before and will not now.
American Eldercide
Long-term care facilities are linked to nearly 40 percent of all coronavirus deaths in the United States. It didn’t have to be this way.
Union Power After the Election
The development of a social democratic faction in the Democratic Party has given labor a chance to punch above its weight. But access alone isn’t power.
Foreign Policy After Trump
Joe Biden promises to lift U.S. foreign policy up from the low-minded nationalism of the Trump era. But the era of confident American hegemony is drawing to a close.
Will Joe Biden Be the First Climate President?
Biden can and should use executive action to reduce emissions. But we also need policies that can help build a popular base for climate action, connected to material improvements in people’s lives.
