Working Class

Part Five – Building a Real Alternative: Get Organized
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Part Five – Building a Real Alternative: Get Organized

Trump’s anti-“radical left” rhetoric is aimed at grassroots activists fighting for a more just and democratic future. By reviving Cold War fears, he seeks to divide working people and weaken the labor movement. But across the country, workers are fighting back — organizing unions, running for office, and demanding real solutions to the crises we face.

Part five of this essay dives into why a militant, democratic labor movement is essential to challenging corporate power, combating climate change, and resisting the slide toward authoritarianism. From Amazon warehouses to AI ethics protests, from rail yards to classrooms — workers are getting organized.

Trump Tariffs: The Madman Theory Applied to Economics (and what we should do about it)
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Trump Tariffs: The Madman Theory Applied to Economics (and what we should do about it)

In part one, Paul Jay exposes how Trump’s tariff policy, far from protecting American workers, is a calculated strategy to fund militarization, crush labor, and entrench corporate-nationalist rule. Behind the chaos lies a coherent project—driven by Trump’s allies—to weaponize climate denial, exploit regressive taxes, and funnel billions into AI-driven warfare and fossil fuel expansion. The so-called “Golden Dome” is revealed as a trillion-dollar boondoggle enriching tech oligarchs under the guise of missile defense. This is not economic protectionism—it’s the financial architecture of authoritarianism.

Part Three – The Global Axis of the Far Right
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Part Three – The Global Axis of the Far Right

Trump’s tariff war isn’t about protecting jobs — it’s part of a global strategy to empower a far-right alliance with Putin, Orbán, and nationalist movements across Europe. This episode exposes how economic sabotage and weaponized antisemitism fuel authoritarianism — and how workers and students are fighting back.

Can Labor Stop Trump and Musk? | Eric Blanc on theAnalysis.news

Can Labor Stop Trump and Musk? | Eric Blanc on theAnalysis.news

On this episode of theAnalysis.news, Frank Hammer speaks with labor scholar and activist Eric Blanc about the growing role of organized workers—especially federal unions—in confronting the Trump-Musk authoritarian agenda. They discuss the resurgence of May Day protests, the push for a general strike in 2028, and the urgent need for mass resistance now, not later.

Blanc outlines how Trump’s attacks on federal unions are a warning shot for the entire labor movement, drawing historical parallels to Reagan’s PATCO firings. He also calls on union leaders, including the AFL-CIO, to move beyond court battles and into coordinated, disruptive action.

Part Two – Boast About Jobs, Suppress Worker Power
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Part Two – Boast About Jobs, Suppress Worker Power

Trump sells his tariff agenda as a jobs boom for American workers — but it’s a smokescreen for a global attack on labor. At home, new factories are routed to anti-union states, while Trump’s appointees quietly dismantle the NLRB to block worker organizing. Abroad, tariffs target export economies like China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, fueling layoffs and driving down wages to benefit U.S. corporate margins. It’s a calculated campaign to suppress labor power worldwide. But the chaos it’s unleashed — from domestic legal battles to global economic disruption — suggests the plan may be backfiring. Even some of Trump’s allies are starting to question whether the madness is strategic… or just madness.

Can the Green Transition Work for Workers? – Robert Pollin
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Can the Green Transition Work for Workers? – Robert Pollin

This interview was produced by INET. Robert Pollin presents a compelling case for a global Green New Deal that fights climate change without sacrificing jobs. He explains why the shift to renewable energy is not just technologically possible, but economically beneficial—creating far more jobs than fossil fuels. But without strong labor protections and guaranteed wages, pensions, and reemployment for fossil fuel workers, the transition risks political backlash. Drawing from work in West Virginia and beyond, Pollin outlines the real costs, benefits, and global financing strategies needed to meet the 2050 net-zero target—while ensuring no community is left behind.

What Does the Ukrainian Working Class Want? – Paul Jay & Denys Gorbach

What Does the Ukrainian Working Class Want? – Paul Jay & Denys Gorbach

As the U.S. and Russia discuss a possible ceasefire, what role do the Ukrainian people—especially the working class—have in shaping the outcome? Paul Jay speaks with Ukrainian political scientist Denys Gorbach about the war, class dynamics, and the neoliberal assault on workers’ rights during the conflict—a rare, progressive, class-conscious look at the war in Ukraine.

Trump and Vance’s “Pro-Worker” Rhetoric a Cover for Tech Billionaires – Jonathan M. Katz

Trump and Vance’s “Pro-Worker” Rhetoric a Cover for Tech Billionaires – Jonathan M. Katz

During the hyper-masculine clown car that was the Republican National Convention, Trump and his VP nominee, J.D. Vance, spewed absurd anti-migrant accusations and supposed pro-worker policies. Journalist and author Jonathan M. Katz breaks down the reactionary rhetoric of MAGA Republicans and argues that Vance’s populism is anything but worker-friendly, given his well-established ties to Silicon Valley.  

Weaponizing Antisemitism to Politically Assassinate the French Left – Sari Hanafi Pt. 1/2

Weaponizing Antisemitism to Politically Assassinate the French Left – Sari Hanafi Pt. 1/2

Against all expectations, the left coalition, aptly calling itself the “New Popular Front,” was able to win the most seats – 182 out of 577 seats – in the final round of the French parliamentary elections. French-Palestinian sociologist Dr. Sari Hanafi explains how the left quickly formed a political alliance to keep Marine Le Pen’s far-right party, the National Rally, from gaining enough seats to govern in the French parliament. He delves into the weaponization of antisemitism to smear Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of France Unbowed, which is the largest leftist party within the New Popular Front. 

Workers’ Movements in Revolutionary Iran and Europe – Saeed Rahnema part 2/2
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Workers’ Movements in Revolutionary Iran and Europe – Saeed Rahnema part 2/2

In part 2, political scientist Dr. Saeed Rahnema discusses his experience in the workers’ council movement leading up to and during the Iranian Revolution of 1979-1980 and addresses the Islamic Republic’s opposition to unions.  He also contends that modern-day working classes in the West are ideologically and culturally segmented and that the left has failed to mobilize at numerous historical junctures.

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