this is a telling headline from CNBC. if our economy needs us to keep buying devices that break, maybe it’s the system — not the devices — that needs an upgrade.

tired of corporations having too much power? the solution is the same as it ever was: organized labor. the latest proof comes from a hospital system in California:

fake climate solutions: - green capitalism - carbon offsets - billionaire-backed techno-fixes real climate solutions: - buying less stuff - $ into public transit - community-owned energy - degrowth in rich nations - land back

elon musk wants to block out the sun wait — we’ve seen this before…

My morning podcast listen today was @michaelmezz.bsky.social and @graceblakeley.substack.com in conversation on BETTER FUTURE. It was very cogent discussion of how wealthy people use power & money to control and curate an economic system designed for exploitation. Includes important examples.

how people who support canceling SNAP benefits see the world, apparently

notes on gatesnotes, in a thread "A new way to look at the problem" - er, no, he's been running this line for DECADES On the headline: you can absolutely guarantee anyone presenting themselves as telling tough, hard truths is about to deliver some self-aggrandising nonsense

Pix is wildly popular in Brazil 📈 it’s a free, inclusive, publicly-owned digital payment system… and it’s quickly become the most common payment method in 🇧🇷 but it cuts out US corporations — so now the US govt is trying to get it taken down. this is what capitalist imperialism looks like:

super excited to share my new podcast episode with @graceblakeley.substack.com ‼️ we dig into the history of capitalism, the ways corporations and states work together to protect their power, and what the rest of us can do about it.

wealthy people aren’t wealthy because they “take risks.” they insulate themselves from the serious risks working people face every day. neoliberalism supports this by removing workers’ rights to organize. @graceblakeley.substack.com on the better future podcast:

please help raise awareness for Sudan, where there is an urgent humanitarian crisis that isn’t getting coverage in Western media.

Mamdani: “we want to showcase our ideals, not by lecturing people about how correct we are, but rather delivering and letting that delivery be the argument itself.” 👆 important reminder for all socialists

why is this so hard to understand

the US is taking a 10% stake in Intel. this is corporate socialism — designed to protect private industries tied to US empire. now imagine if we had progressive politicians bold enough to enact socialism *for the people* — where public investments fund healthcare, housing, renewable energy, etc…

Slavoj Žižek: it’s not culture that drives overconsumption — it’s capitalism.

Thomas Sankara stood up to capitalist imperialism – and was assassinated as a result. we should remember him, for we are the heirs of the world’s revolutions. @jasonhickel.bsky.social on the Better Future podcast:

class vs. identity politics is one of the deepest divides in the US progressive movement right now. i sat down with @bookersquared.bsky.social to talk about how we bridge it. i’m optimistic — because so much of US leftist history was written by Black people.

oft-cited “benefits of capitalism” – lower poverty, better healthcare, higher standards of living – aren’t consequences of capitalism. they were concessions won from capital won by organized workers. capital extracts profit. labor wins rights.

friendly reminder that US politicians chose to put Labor Day in September to prevent international working class solidarity (most of the world celebrates May Day on May 1st)

truths that people defending modern neoliberal capitalism fail to accept: 1. the cost of living is going up - this will continue. 2. the capitalist growth imperative is causing climate change. 3. the vast majority of the benefits of growth are going to a very small % of the population

Freedom is not an acceptable idea. Toma ya.

Highly recommended 👇

why does the US continue to support Israel, despite condemnation from its own citizens and the world? Israel helps the US crush liberation movements in the region. and the occupation of Gaza upholds the structures of capitalist imperialism. @jasonhickel.bsky.social on the Better Future podcast:

world leaders are meeting now to finalize a Global Plastics Treaty. the majority of countries are prepared to cap plastic production. but negotiations are about to collapse — because the US, Russia, and the Gulf States flooded the event with 234 oil industry lobbyists who are disrupting progress.

liberals are committed to human rights... but their commitment to capitalism is a bigger priority. this is why, time and time again, liberalism gives power to the far right. only a broad-based socialist movement can get us off this flywheel. @jasonhickel.bsky.social on Better Future podcast:

why does the West start wars in the Global South? because capitalism depends on a constant flow of cheap labor & resources from the global periphery to the core. Western states start wars to keep prices low & protect capital accumulation. @jasonhickel.bsky.social on the Better Future podcast:

the uncomfortable truth: only a small fraction of people can ever be “elites.” having an elite class at all means devoting society’s labor & energy & materials to servicing their desires this is an irrational thing to be doing. watch @jasonhickel.bsky.social on episode 3 of Better Future podcast:

This was a great discussion ! The full episode is perfect for a nice walk or commute.

we should tax the rich — but maybe not for the reason you think. ultra-wealthy people’s money gives them too much command over our labor. only by taxing the rich can we free up resources for the things we actually want. listen to @jasonhickel.bsky.social on episode 003 of Better Future podcast:

ever wondered what comes after capitalism, and how to get there? i interviewed @jasonhickel.bsky.social about degrowth, fighting imperialism, and how we build a livable future. watch here 👇

can capitalism solve climate change? episode 003 of Better Future podcast is now live, featuring @jasonhickel.bsky.social

1/ Childcare is one of the biggest expenses families face, up there with rent or a mortgage. Paired with low wages for caregivers and endless waitlists, it’s a prime example of a broken market.

It's weird that a big tent Democratic party wouldn't include the guy who just handily won the Democratic primary in the city with the most Democratic voters in America. #votersmatter

Zohran Mamdani’s win shows us that we can steamroll the Democratic establishment out of power by putting forward a truly progressive platform that represents the interests of working people. look no further: this is the playbook for taking over the party and positioning it to win elections.

The MAGA immigration narrative is filled with talking points that don’t stand up to reality.

finally, we are united ✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼

some of you aren't understanding the symbolic power of Greta on the Madleen Gaza aid flotilla. what you need to know: there was a another ship. another aid flotilla, before this one. it was called the Conscience. and the day it set sail, it was bombed by Israel. (1/2)

it’s crazy to think about the amount of money Greta Thunberg would have if she embraced corporate sponsorships & greenwashing. instead, she follows her moral compass — even when it makes her a threat to capital. we need more people like Greta.

mainstream economists say the US economy is “leaving Europe in the dust” actually, income growth for the 99% has been better in France 🇫🇷 than in the USA 🇺🇸

it’s always “let's be more sustainable” and never “let's reconfigure the entire global economy so that we no longer need to rely on infinite, carbon-intensive GDP growth to maintain geopolitical stability"

a few of my favorite academics published a paper that exposes some controversial truths about our economic system. here’s why they recommend a shift to a post-growth economy:

Americans favor labor unions over big business now more than ever, analysis of new data @epi.org from me & Adam Reich of Columbia Labor Lab. In data back 60 years, Americans' sentiments are both warmer toward unions & cooler towards big business than ever before. www.epi.org/blog/america...

a few of President Biden’s policy wins: - the Inflation Reduction Act (biggest US clean energy investment ever) - the CHIPS Act (huge investment in US technology) - the IIJA (long-overdue investment in US infrastructure) his legacy is an effort to steer markets toward building more things we need.

by failing to stop the genocide in Gaza, President Biden did irreparable harm to US liberalism worldwide. the USA may never recover its moral credibility.

At least 27 are dead in Missouri in Kentucky after severe weather alerts were delayed overnight because of DOGE cuts. www.mesoscalenews.com/p/tornado-wa...

this “news spotlight” really sums up the current vibes

Reminder: after ~$20k GDP per person, more economic growth doesn’t measurably improve human wellbeing. What DOES improve lives? 💡 Full employment 💡 Strong social safety nets 💡 Free public services 💡 Relationships with others We don’t need endless growth... we just need to prioritize what matters.

elon musk & other billionaires want us to worry about “population collapse.” don’t be fooled — a declining population would mean less poverty, less stress on the environment, and more power for workers.

United Healthcare is being sued by its shareholders — and it’s a perfect example of what’s wrong with our economic system.

israel’s plan to annex gaza makes it VERY clear: this has always been a genocide. ethnic cleansing has always been the ultimate goal.