This is a damning anecdote from Rep Jim McGovern. He tells me that during debate over Trump's big budget bill, House Rs privately admitted to him that it would screw over their own constituents, yet they had to vote for it anyway. Read all of it. He wrecks them: newrepublic.com/article/1999...

I haven’t finished listening to this one, but so excited about Benanav’s argument for a place for public-sector economic planning, I had to post. Given the housing crisis, an argument for a 5-year housing plan should be front and center of a winning socialist political program.

“It was on a smaller scale, but it’s a reminder that, although large groups of migrants are a powerful visual to activate hawkish opinions, a successful integration operation prevents those optics from arising and is legitimately good for people.” www.dissentmagazine.org/article/trum...

Samuel Moyn is always worth a listen - I’m reminded of Napoleon’s quip about how he came to lead France - he supposedly said that when he returned to Paris, the crown was just lying on the ground. Is the Left’s elite able and willing to step into the power vacuum in the Democratic Party?

ENDS SUNDAY, JULY 20th! Thousands of stickers have already been claimed! That shows how badly people want working class champions in office who believe in a better future. Every donation helps us elect more. Give ANYTHING and get this sticker as thanks: wfpus.org/Sticker

Western Mass. tenants organizing to build communities for affordability and against corporate greed. So proud of Joel Feldman and his work on this - our little firm continues to have an outsized impact. www.gazettenet.com/Easthampton-...

This is really a fantastic discussion and illuminating on a question that’s been bothering me for a little while now - how did we get to this point where the class divide has become defined more and more by educational attainment?

“More than $100 million is set to flow to homelessness prevention programs, including income support for at-risk tenants and eviction defense.” By @latimes’ Andrew Khouri latimes.com/california/s... #housing+ #urbanism+ #urbanism

How to make sense of any "agenda" in the Trump years? Some important insights here: private markets want access to 401(k)s to sustain asset values, and align with Silicon Valley in seeing a return of M&As as another way to pull cash out of inflated securities. www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/ame...

New Study 🔔: More than 7M Americans face eviction each year. But if they go to court, most do it alone, without a lawyer. Our researchers studied the initiatives that are trying to change this reality, known as Right to Counsel programs or RTC. evictionlab.org/disrupting-t...

“[A winning politics] means connecting with ordinary people and changing policy at the state and local levels, not just gaming a narrative every four years to win the presidency.”

Imagine if we had had a president willing to fight as hard for the PRO Act as this one does for tax cuts for the rich. Instead we got one who fought harder to perpetuate a genocide and to this day cannot stop gaslighting his own base re: his declining health.

Next year, with a push from tenant organizing . . .

Collective action is the only way forward.

Republicans are spineless cowards.

The interview discussing Italian elite theory is particularly good. I’ve spent a lot of time wondering if the Left hasn’t fetishized “little d” democracy at the expense of developing real leadership.

Slightly delayed posting today because KPFA is fundraising, and when they are, I have to do two shows—one for the fundraiser, one for the rest of the world. Contribute to @kpfa.org at support.kpfa.org. Be sure to mention BtN if you do.

Good report on one of the most pointless, destructive pursuits contemporary capitalism has devised—powered in this case by the Texas electrical grid (in a state not known for a plenitude of water).

Trump has gutted labor rights, slashed the federal workforce, and opposed a minimum wage hike. But resistance is brewing.

It’s old news, but worth the reminder: collective action is the means of social change.

I was an inner-city high school teacher in a former life. Eviction often means a kid has to transfer to a whole new district with different curricular choices. It has a seriously detrimental impact on a child’s educational development.

Would be nice to see Mass. get ahead of the curve on this.

Excited to start implementing this important protection for tenants.

Another fantastic interview with Quinn Slobodian. Looking forward to the next, when there will hopefully be time for an exploration of gold vs. crypto in the Right imaginary, a topic I am keen to hear more about.

“Reports of physical abuse, sexual abuse and child neglect all fell during U.S. eviction bans, researchers reported April 8 in the journal Pediatrics.” www.healthday.com/health-news/... #housing+ #urbanism+ #urbanism

We need more AOCs in Congress.

Remember: The fundamental issue isn’t the size of the government or how to make government more “efficient.”  It’s who our government is for. Should it work mainly for big corporations and billionaires, including the richest person in the world — or for the rest of us?

This flew under the radar, but Trump revoked a minimum wage hike for companies that contract with the government. An estimated 390,000 workers will now see significant pay cuts. It's not surprising that Trump's populism is fake, but it's hardly ever been more clear.

We expected 2,000 people out in GOP-held Greeley, Colorado. 11,000 people showed up. Something special is happening, folks. Now is the time to organize in every dimension possible and get to work.

I feel like it’s worth another reminder that reacting to Trump 24/7 is not politically effective in the log term. If we want to win, we need to articulate a better alternative that is realistic and popular. Now is the time to build political power around a vision of govt that works for the people.

The Cebul/Geismer interview is spot on. Anybody who is in touch with the working class of this nation will recognize their analysis and critique of how we got here.

“These are the times that try men souls: the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country. But he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered,” The Crisis, Thomas Paine

⚡️FIGHT THE OLIGARCHY RALLY ⚡️ STARTING TOMORROW. Nevada. Arizona. Colorado. You, me, and Bernie. Dem and GOP districts. ❤️💙 See you there 💪🏽🌞

Families need relief from sky-high housing costs. So let’s increase supply—that’s Econ 101. I’ve got a bill to create nearly 3 million more homes and bring down rents for lower-income and middle-class Americans by 10%. I’ll keep working to get it done.

I cannot emphasize this enough: no one will remember the shutdown even happened when it’s time to vote next year. One way or the other!

No one should *ever* be targeted for speaking out in solidarity with Palestine, including my brilliant colleague @helyehdoutaghi.bsky.social. These are terrifying times, and we must all stand together against repression. lpeproject.org/blog/stateme...

Trump’s efforts to cripple governmental functions that serve the common American are harming our nation. Proud to be on the signature line of this litigation. www.linkedin.com/posts/adam-m...

If you want to understand why things are the way they are, and what to do about it, read Naomi Klein. From Shock Doctrine to Doppleganger, she consistently has her finger on the zeitgeist. Should be required media for anyone interested in our future.

I really can’t recommend this book enough. If I ever teach a course on organizing, this will be on the reading list.

Today, the House GOP censured me for speaking out for the American people against @POTUS’s plan to cut Medicaid. I accept the consequences of my actions, but I refuse to stay silent in the face of injustice. #WeShallOvercome x.com/repalgreen/s...

To every one of my neighbors back in Boston, know this: You belong here. This is your home. Boston es tu hogar. Boston se lakay ou. 這是你的家. This is our city. We are the safest major city in the nation because we are safe for everyone. #Boston #Congress #CongressionalHearing #Immigration

If economic justice is not the center of our work, we’ve already lost.

A month on, @davidaustinwalsh.bsky.social deserves credit for warning us not to overestimate the potency of the fissures within Trump's coalition. Unlike David, I underestimated the willingness of conservatives to swallow stupid, purely destructive policies in order to advance their pet projects.

It’s an odd notion that we ought to depend on the judicial branch to defend democracy instead of - you know - voters, but it’s good to be reminded why.

The GOP keeps calling itself as a working-class party. But their budget plan calls for huge tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and slashing programs that help the working-class. Don't fall for their rebrand.

The United States doesn’t support Ukraine as a favor, but because it serves our security. Putin is a dictator, not Zelensky. Putin started the war, not Zelensky. Yelling in the Oval Office and siding with Putin is shameful and a danger to democracy around the world.

A must read now: www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...

We need rent stabilization in Mass. This is happening all over - new owners jacking up rents. Displacement is hard for tenants and hard for communities. Mass. residents: tell your state legislators you support the rent stabilization bill: H.2501/S.1084. www.gazettenet.com/search?bodys...

One frustrating thing is that pre-inauguration I figured out how to organize my BlueSky feeds and was getting interesting policy discussion and analysis mostly organized around the different topics I’m interested in. Now it’s just all hot takes on the latest outrage. We’re so distracted.

We have to come out of this expecting and demanding more not less