Politics

8 Thinkers on the Left Explain What the Midterm Results Mean for Progressives

Nina Turner, Maria Svart, Rick Perlstein, Barbara Ransby, Bill Fletcher Jr., Ai-jen Poo, Larry Cohen and Keeanga-Yahmatta Taylor give their takeaways from Tuesday night.

In These Times Contributors

Any Democrat Who Takes Fossil Fuel Money Should Face a Primary Challenge in 2020

The fossil fuel industry's campaign contributions are a threat to democracy.

Kate Aronoff

A Message to J.B. Pritzker: We Are Going to Hold You to Your Progressive Promises

You ran for Illinois governor on a platform of raising taxes on the rich, investing in social programs and achieving racial equity. We expect to see these promises become a reality.

Amisha Patel

An Open Letter To Andrew Cuomo: Now Will You Keep Your Clemency Promises?

Despite big talk, in eight years, the governor has freed exactly one domestic violence survivor from prison.

S&P NYC

Democrats Won the House. To Keep Winning, They Need to Move Sharply Left.

Democratic operatives will use the midterm results to preach centrism, but the future of the party lies in its left flank.

Miles Kampf-Lassin

The Case for a Democratic Socialist Caucus In the U.S. Congress

To make sure newly elected socialists don’t end up looking like corporate Democrats, we need a democratic socialist caucus in Congress.

Bhaskar Sunkara

A New Koch Brothers-Funded Super PAC Tried to Capitalize on the Janus Decision Ahead of the Election

A right-wing political advocacy organization funded by the Koch brothers has endorsed eight GOP House incumbents in the hopes of keeping the House red and squashing unions' influence in Washington.

Eric Bradach

The Legacy of Foreclosure Fraud Could Help Decide Whether Ohio Turns Blue on Tuesday

Eight years ago, the Tea Party wave helped oust Democratic Attorney General Richard Cordray. Now he could take over the governor’s mansion.

David Dayen

Ron DeSantis Has Every Reason to Be Scared of the Dream Defenders—They Are Building Racial Justice

By linking his opponent Andrew Gillum to a group he claims has a “hateful and dangerous ideology,” Florida’s Republican gubernatorial candidate is again employing racist dog whistles—a longtime strategy of the Right.

Eli Day

How Ordinary Americans Can Welcome Migrants and Refugees With Open Arms

In 2015, ordinary Europeans welcomed refugees with open arms. Will we do the same with the caravan from Central America?

Khury Peterson-Smith

On Tuesday, Oaklanders Will Decide Whether Landlords Can Evict Them for No Reason

In a city that has become ground zero for gentrification, black working-class tenants are leading a fight to stay in their homes.

Eli Day

Yes, Voter Suppression Is Real. But Young Voters May Bridge the Gap.

The midterms are rigged against people of color and the poor.

Joel Bleifuss

The GOP’s Latest Red-Baiting Tactic? Tying a Democratic Challenger to In These Times.

In a desperate move, Colorado Republican Rep. Scott Tipton is attempting to paint his opponent Diane Mitsch Bush as a socialist threat because she subscribed to In These Times.

Jim Naureckas

Digital Smoke Signals in the 2018 Midterms

Stephanie Woodard

A Spectre Is Haunting the White House: Why the Trump Administration Is So Scared of Socialism

A new report from the Trump White House attempts to curb the growth of socialism in the United States. Clearly, the administration sees the movement as a real threat.

Miles Kampf-Lassin

Socialists Versus Landlords

Los Angeles DSA is harnessing anger over skyrocketing rent to get nonvoters to the polls in November.

David Dayen

What Russiagate Skeptics Get Wrong

The Left can call for military deescalation while still holding Putin accountable for electoral meddling.

John Feffer

Democratic Socialist Jovanka Beckles Could Upset Buffy ‘the Bernie Slayer’ Wicks in CA

Beckles is running in the East Bay on a solidly left-wing platform and her campaign is gaining steam ahead of the November 6 election.

Keisa Reynolds