Would democracy work better if more working-class people ran for public office? Running for office is time-consuming and expensive, and the most important pipeline that launches working-class people into politics, the labor movement, is far weaker than it once was.
Robert Kuttner
Robert Kuttner is co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect, and professor at Brandeis University’s Heller School. His latest book is Notes for Next Time: Surviving Tyranny, Redeeming America. Follow Bob at his site, robertkuttner.com, and on Twitter.
Posted inAmerica and the World
Trump’s Feeble Made-for-TV Diplomacy
President Trump left town last weekend for a six-day Asia trip, partly to change the subject and partly to score some cheap symbolic victories. As always, his goal was short-run successes, with foreign leaders fawning in his presence.
Posted inTAP
Monroe Doctrine II, Trump Style
President Trump, with the help of his Treasury secretary, just pulled off a rescue that few thought possible, promising $40 billion to Argentina. What’s notable is not the novelty of Trump’s inter-American imperialism but the broad continuity with past U.S. policies.
Posted inTAP
Trump’s Faltering Economy
The seemingly not-too-bad Trump economy is living on borrowed time. Both inflation and employment are getting worse, and the booming stock market is in AI bubble territory.
Posted inTAP
What Next After No Kings Day II?
No Kings is a terrific recruitment force—for everything from local actions against National Guard and ICE incursions, to coordination with courageous governors and mayors, to engagement in this year’s and next year’s elections.
Posted inEconomic Policy
No, the Boomers Did Not Take It All
The more that young people focus on supposed generational injustices rather than the real injustices of class and power, the less likely they are to embrace a politics that might make a real difference.
Posted inTAP
The Shrapnel Presidency
Trump’s minions planned a firing of 60 howitzer shells over a freeway in L.A. to harass Gov. Newsom and local residents. Instead, friendly fire hit VP Vance’s entourage.
Posted inNewsletters
Trump Keeps Overreaching: Will It Backfire?
No university has agreed to his latest extortion plan. And his vindictive partisan shutdown of the NY-NJ Gateway tunnel project could be a life preserver for Democrat Mikie Sherrill in the close New Jersey governor’s race.
Posted inNewsletters
Trump’s Tariff Tantrums
The Supreme Court will soon rule on whether Trump’s aggressive and impulsive use of tariffs is an illegal usurpation of Congressional authority spelled out clearly in Article I of the Constitution. The right to levy tariffs is reserved to Congress, except where explicitly delegated to the president. Congress has done this in three laws, each […]
Posted inPolitics
The Damaged Democratic Brand
More successful economic populists within the Democratic Party can help other Democrats revive their brand with an appeal that rouses voters.
