In two weeks, Zohran Mamdani will be sworn in as mayor of New York. What are the perspectives for his administration? To answer that, in part we must understand the political […]
Zohran Mamdani and the New York City bourgeoisie
When a certain left participates in the far right’s campaign against Mamdani
When a certain left participates in the far right’s campaign against Mamdani By Yorgos Mitralias Where to begin and where to end? In our countries, many people on the left seem to […]
Interview with Sean Cudden: “British working class alive and kicking”
Introduction: Oaklandsocialist presents the first in a two part series on what’s happening in Britain. In this interview, Scottish worker Sean Cudden discusses: The British Labour Party Reform UK Party and Nigel […]
Trump: Fortunes and misfortunes of a pyromaniac peacemaker!
Trump: Fortunes and misfortunes of a pyromaniac peacemaker! by Yorgos Mitralias The Trump-Mamdani meeting at the White House was not only “strange” and “surprising” given everything that had preceded it. Above all, […]
Trump’s demand that Ukraine surrender under attack; negotiations underway
There are three parties involved in the “peace” negotiations currently underway in Geneva: The first is Donald Trump. Due to financial and political connections and also through his Eurasianist world view (For […]
Trump-Mamdani press conference: “Making love – not war”?
Did the Trump Mamdani press conference “make love- not war” as Politico described it , or was it two opponents feeling each other out, seeking an opening or advantage while trying not […]
Trump/Project 2025 base may be a lot weaker than you think
Trump/Project 2025 may be a lot weaker than we think. The capitalist base upon which it relies is weakening. This weakening base is happening in: The federal judiciary The federal law-enforcement agencies, […]
1918-2025: The burning relevance of the First World butchery!
Because we do not forget and because we do not want to forget, we are republishing this text, first written and published in 1998 in “Epohi,” with the introduction that accompanied it […]
Interview with VT. state senator Tanya Vyhovsky: Why socialists must support Ukraine
Oaklandsocialist interviewed democratic socialist Vermont State Senator Tanya Vyhovsky, who toured Ukraine last summer. Here in this video, she talks about her knowledge of and experiences in Ukraine and why socialists must […]
Video: It was a set-up job!
It wasn’t just those 8 Democratic senators who caved in; this was set up from the very top – from Chuck Schumer. It reminds me of this con game they ran […]
Mamdani Movement has won a great victory. Now beware the corporate wolf in sheep’s clothing!
Zohran Mamdani has helped set off a revolt among New York City’s youth and even beyond. Now, a layer of the Democratic Party leadership and their talking heads want to “support” him […]
Video: Interviews at Oakland election watch party
DSA organized an election watch party in Oakland last night. There were something between 100 to 200 people there. I attended and interviewed several people. While not a full sample, I still […]
Video: Jon Stewart interviews Zohran Mamdani
Jon Stewart (“The Daily Show) interviews Zohran Mamdani. His victory seems almost certain. The top capitalists are throwing millions at Cuomo in a desperate attempt to stop Mamdani, but at a certain […]
When Trump revives eugenics responsible for the worst crimes against humanity!
When Trump revives eugenics responsible for the worst crimes against humanity! by Yorgos Mitralias It must be said that what was unthinkable—and unacceptable—just a few months ago is now becoming commonplace: Trump is a […]
Video: No Kings March in Oakland
Report and commentary on the No Kings March in Oakland. Includes signs various people made and the (lack of) serious role of the unions vs. the extreme seriousness of Trump’s reaction. And […]
Trump “peace plan” analysis and perspectives: No stability; Iran revolution is key for workers unity
“Within hours of the announcement [of a peace deal], videos from across the Gaza Strip showed children dancing in the streets, people cheering and families embracing as the news of a long […]
For a left that fights Trump, Netanyahu, and Putin, without distinction!
With Greta Thunberg For a left that fights Trump, Netanyahu, and Putin, without distinction! By Yorgos Mitralias But what peace plan in Palestine are they talking about? The one that, in its […]
Mamdani Movement can change New York City and defeat Trump/Project 2025!
For New Yorkers the Mamdani movement can be a means of making life better for themselves. It can make rent, transportation, and child care more affordable. That economic change will also help […]
Conspiracy thinking, past and present
The most recent opinion poll, taken September 22-27, reveals a lot about the thinking in the United States. In fact, some of the results reveal even more than that. According to this […]
For an ecosocialist degrowth
FOR AN ECOSOCIALIST DEGROWTH Why republish the text “For an ecosocialist degrowth,” which was already published in several languages more than three and a half years ago? First, because its initial publication […]
Hegseth & Trump take step to ensure military brass loyalty to them over Constitution
Four days ago, Oaklandsocialist warned about the then upcoming meeting of all the top brass with Hegseth and Trump. Pay attention to Trump/Hegseth’s steps in the U.S. military! we wrote. We explained […]
Pay attention to Trump/Hegseth’s steps in U.S. military!
Trump personal takeover of US military Attempted to use military to overturn 2020 election Likely election losses in 2026 Supreme Court and right wing legal theories Popular resistance and U.S. labor […]
Situation in Poland: Interview with Szymon Martys
Poland has moved to center stage in European news, both for its political developments inside the country and because of Russian aggression against Poland. Here, we talk with long time Polish socialist […]
No illusions: neither Zionism nor its state can be reformed!
No illusions: neither Zionism nor its state can be reformed! By Yorgos Mitralias Although it may seem inappropriate to talk about a few Israeli hostages held by Hamas at a time when […]
The murder of Charlie Kirk and the coming repression
Note: this is the second part of a two part series on the murder of Charlie Kirk and the fallout of that event. The first part, which, among other things explained the […]
Jasmine Crockett in her own words
As opposed to the Democratic Party leadership, and even as opposed to the soft left like Jacobin Magazine, congresswoman Jasmine Crockett doesn’t pull any punches regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk and […]
The murder of Charlie Kirk: myths and reality
In this article How liberals and the soft left covered up for Charlie Kirk Who Kirk really was. The right wing background on his accused assassin Threats against “the left” Concluding thoughts […]
Walls closing in around Trump; is resistance prepared for his violent reaction?
The walls are closing in on Trump, and his reaction is to become increasingly repressive and violent. Is the Mamdani Movement and the resistance in general prepared for it? Consider what is […]
Epstein/Maxwell sex trafficking survivors speak out! (video)
Listen to and learn from the survivors of the Epstein/Maxwell child sex trafficking ring!
Labor Day 2025 and the threat of martial law: Make Unions Great Again!
First Los Angeles. Then Washington DC. Next up Chicago. These are the first targets for Trump sending troops out into the streets. Trump’s first term To understand what this is really all […]
The unspoken questions standing over the Mamdani Movement
Come November 5 the Mamdani Movement will most likely be facing the following situation: Mamdani will have been overwhelmingly elected mayor of New York, possibly with an outright majority of votes; and […]
Is the Iran regime splitting?
Introduction by Oaklandsocialist The most dangerous time for any repressive regime is when it tries to reform itself. Then splits develop in the regime, opening the way for a movement from below. […]
Putin Trump alliance advances towards mutual goals: Ukraine for Putin, Nobel Prize for Trump
The Putin Trump alliance advances towards mutual goals: Ukraine for Putin, Nobel Prize for Trump On August 15, the two most powerful ethno-nationalist, racist, homophobic, and sexist leaders in the world – […]
Anti-Semitism is a Growing Danger, but not in the way you think
Introduction by Oaklandsocialist Today, defenders of the genocidal state of Israel throw the charge “antisemitism” at anybody who makes legitimate criticisms of that state or of Zionism in general. We must not […]
Video: Thomas Friedman unloads on Trump for firing head of the BLS
On Aug. 1, Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for having reported on negative numbers for the previous month. Here, conservative NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman unloads on […]
The REAL reason US capitalism supports Israel
Here, in this 1986 speech, then Senator Joe Biden explains why the US must support and rely upon Israel, and Israel alone, in the so-called “Middle East”. He explains that while the […]
The new Syrian government: Is this what so many sacrificed so much for?
“I remember every friend, every person who I protested next to, every friend who was tortured to death. They didn’t die in vain to get this. They died to get freedom. They […]
The hypocrisy of diplomacy. Ukraine welcomes and fraternizes with Netanyahu’s ambassador
Sotsialy Rukh (Social Movement) is a broad-based socialist group in Ukraine. They have always opposed Russia’s invasion while at the same time taking an independent (and critical) position towards Zelensky. Here is […]
Some ideas on how to defeat the corporate opponents of the Mamdani Movement
Zohran Mamdani already looked like he was going to win the Mayor race in New York City. His chances look even better since his two main opponents, Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams, […]
Elective affinities of executioners: The Rafah Ghetto like the Warsaw Ghetto
Elective affinities of executioners The Rafah Ghetto like the Warsaw Ghetto By Yorgos Mitralias “And now we ask: How can you eat, sleep, live? How guilty will you feel in your hearts […]
“Better to break the law than to break the poor.” A lesson for the “Mamdani Movement”: The Battle of Liverpool, 1983-’85:
“Better to break the law than to break the poor.” A lesson for the “Mamdani Movement”: The Battle of Liverpool, 1983-’85: Introduction The Mamdani Movement is already facing resistance not only […]
An imaginary conversation — or is it?
I have a good friend and trusted associate who is a server at one of the most elite private clubs in Manhattan. He overheard the following conversation between two of the most […]
They can’t “kneecap” opposition to Israel!
Introduction Opposition to Israel is growing, especially among the youth around the world. Every attempt to silence this opposition backfires. Right now, that attempt to silence it focuses on the youth culture […]
Zohran Mamdani: The Spectre that haunts the Democratic Party and Trump
A spectre – a ghost – is haunting the Democratic party. That spectre has a smiling face and a name to go with it – Zohran Mamdani. In fact, he is haunting […]
Siyâvash Shahabi: Greek tragedy “Antigone” today
by Siyâvash Shahabi A very generous friend invited me to the ancient theater of Epidaurus to watch a performance of Antigone. And in this heat and isolation of Athens, why should I […]
Siyâvash Shahabi: Israel’s attacks result in increased repression inside Iran
By Siyâvash Shahabi The final result of this 12-days war is not just the intensification of repression inside Iran under the name of “defending the homeland” or “fighting espionage.” According to reports, […]
Was it all performative, and will the performance resolve the crisis?
Were Trump and the IRI regime just performing for their bases? And will the performances resolve the crisis? Let’s take those questions one at a time: Both the Trump and the Iranian […]
New Stage in Israel/U.S. attack on Iran
A few facts are starting emerge as far as the US bombing Iran: The bombing was partially effective, but not fully so. Even the 30,000 lb. “bunker buster” bombs did not accomplish […]
Video: John Ferretti interview – “Zohran Mamdani – part of workers movement against fascism & fascist collaborators”
We talked with long time socialist , New York City subway worker and union fighter, John Ferretti, about why he’s supporting Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor. Here is an edited […]
Thank you, Sonia Mitralia
I am so honored that the wonderful Greek artist, Sonia Mitralia, sent me this book of her great drawings. I wish I could read Greek, but even without that, they are great […]
Video and Photos: Oakland “No Kings” protest
Here are some photos plus a short video of the “No Kings” protest in Oakland yesterday. I mix in photos that give an idea of crowd size (estimated at 10,000) with photos […]
Israel bombs Iran, once again confirms status as rogue, genocidal state
It was pretty clear all along that Trump’s “negotiations” with Iran were a set-up for an attack on that country. He can now say he wanted peace, but Iran’s intransigence made it […]
Too late for Israel and the Israelis to free themselves from their genocidal demons!
Too late for Israel and the Israelis to free themselves from their genocidal demons! By Yorgos Mitralias (Note: The news of a likely Israeli strike on Iran makes this article all the […]
A view from Ukraine: Ukrainian union leader comments on U.S. left
A View from Ukraine by Aleksandr Skyba* At present, Ukraine endures a state of war – where every political statement is tested against the harshest of realities. Observing current events in the […]
Trump deploys Marines and Guard; beat up union leader. Unions answer with silence
Trump has sent some 700 U.S. Marines into Los Angeles. He has also deployed thousands of National Guard troops, without the request of California governor Gavin Newsom. Both of these measures are […]
LA ICE raids: Union busting made possible by union bureaucracy & NGO’s
The ICE raids in Los Angeles combined racist anti-immigrant raids with union busting raids. This fact has been hidden by all the media. Also hidden is the failure of the union leadership […]
Capitalists experiencing buyers’ remorse
The bulk of this article was written before the spectacular breakup of the Trump/Musk bromance. That breakup is partly a product of two narcissistic megalomaniacs clashing. Musk’s opposition to the “Big Beautiful […]
Video: Breakup of the Trump/Musk Bromance
Enjoy… & peer beneath the surface
When a Giant rose up: The black South African working class of the 1980s
As a follow-up to the interview Oaklandsocialist did with Trevor Ngwane, we post here a documentary made in 1985-86 of the role of the black working class in South Africa during the […]
Full interview/discussion with Trevor Ngwane
Here is the full, unedited hour and 45 minute interview/discussion we had with Trevor Ngwane. It can also be heard on oaklandsocialist’s podcast channel.
“The movement was decapitated…” Trevor Ngwane draws the political conclusions of what happened in South Africa over the last 30 years.
Here is the most important (and final) portion of our interview with Trevor Ngwane. Trevor explains what happened to the powerful and revolutionary traditions of the movement against apartheid, how it was […]
Interview with Trevor Ngwane, Part 2: Right and left wing populism in South Africa
Here is Part 2 of my interview with Trevor Ngwane. In this interview, he talks about left and right wing populism in South Africa and some other points about current politics in […]
video: interview with Trevor Ngwane – “Africa is not for sale…” or is it?
Here is the first part of the interview with Trevor Ngwane. Below it is a transcription. Also, listen to this as a podcast here. This interview has been edited for length. John […]
Famine as a weapon of genocide: Gaza 2025 – Soviet Union 1941
by Yorgos Mitralias The images of the children of Gaza, which most Western media refuse to show, leave no doubt: they are reminiscent of those of the Nazi extermination camps filmed by […]
World leaders normalize genocide
By Michael Kradjis read more from him at their anti-imperialism and ours Extermination by hunger happening now. Australian government still “concerned”, manages to actually “condemn”, first time using the word, some extremely […]
More news from Great Britain
by Richard Johnson The UK’s left is changing while the far right are making gains The 1st May election results have landed like a bombshell on British politics confirming that the […]
Answer to a question from a young comrade
“Do you have some book recommendations for books you think everyone should read at least once?” asked a young comrade of mine. Here is my answer: First of all, please bear with […]
Russia and the Baltic states
Introduction by Oaklandsocialist: We were at the May Day rally in Berlin. (Video and photos coming.) We talked with a number of groups there, all of whom defended Putin’s invasion of Ukraine […]
Opposing Trump: It’s more complex than it might appear!
Introduction: In the first part of this series we discussed why a nearly exclusively focus on economics is inadequate to oppose Trump and MAGA. Economic self interest is vitally important, but as […]
Opposing Trump & MAGA: “not by bread alone”, Part 1
A movement against Trump is starting to develop. This coincides with the general decline in his support as seen in the opinion polls. The question is what general direction such a movement […]
Internationalism in action as an antidote to the nationalist poison of resurgent fascism!
By Yorgos Mitralias ‘The second story relates to the Wilna ghetto. Until its extermination, some of the men were taken out of the ghetto to work in an arms factory. The director […]
A day in court
I spent an interesting half-day in court the other day. The court was holding bail hearings for a series of defendants. Every single, one of the defendants, with only one exception, was […]
Stopping Trump: A general strike or…?
I was asked about the call for a general strike. Here are my thoughts: A general strike doesn’t happen because a few hundred or even a few thousand people want it; it […]
Divisions in the Iranian regime: Is a renewed revolution next?
Reprinted with permission of the author, who also publishes the web site The Fire Next time.net. Here Siyâvash discusses the developing divisions within the regime of the Islamic State of Iran. Such […]
Reform UK and the Conservatives will probably win the next UK election
(Oaklandsocialist notes: “Reform UK” is a far right party started by Nigel Farage, who has visited with Trump. Farage was one of the engineers of Brexit. As we can see, Trump’s victory […]
“Hands Off” protest in Oakland – video & photos
About 5,000 turned out in Oakland for the April 5 “Hands Off” protest. Here is a short video and some of the photos I took. The posters people made up give a […]
Video: Trump’s tariffs – why they will be an economic and therefore also political disaster
Trump claims that in the longer run his tariffs will lead to greater investment in U.S. production and therefore lead to jobs for U.S. workers. Just the opposite will happen. This video […]
Construction workers discuss the coming tariffs
A construction worker in Eastern United States that we know reports the following conversation he had with some fellow workers about the effect of Trump’s coming tariffs. We also discuss the economic […]
Trumpism as the Nazism of our time!
An apt comparison Trumpism as the Nazism of our time! By Yorgos Mitralias (Introduction: There is serious discussion on whether the United States is now fascist. Nobody can make a serious case […]
Video: Thousands protest Tesla in Berkeley
The anger at the Trump/Vande/Musk triumvirate is focusing on Elon Musk and his DOGE. Here is a video from the protest at Tesla on Sunday, March 29, in Berkeley.
“I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but at least I’m a tool!”
Almost all those who are not completely absorbed into the Trump/MAGA cult have been shocked at the amazing carelessness/light mindedness at best, and utter stupidity at worst, of the Signal, chat group […]
Video: Yulia Yurchenko and Alexander Kyselov at “Left for Ukraine” forum
Here are the first two speakers at the Zoom panel discussion convened by the Italian group “Left for Ukraine”.
Video: Trump for foreigners
I was honored to be invited to participate in a Zoom panel at this conference in Milan, of the Italian group “Left for Ukraine”. Here is a video of my presentation and […]
Oakland special election: “The candidates are lulling us to sleep!”
Oakland is having a special election for mayor and for District 2 of the city council. Here’s a video on the District 2 race. It actually applies to the mayor’s race also. […]
Podcast – The Trump presidency: four years of chaos and corruption “won’t work”, not even for the capitalists!
Here is a podcast of the article of this same title. Oaklandsocialist podcasts can be found here.
The Trump presidency: four years of chaos and corruption “won’t work”, not even for the capitalists!
“Four years of this won’t work, folks.” So spoke Thomas Friedman, prominent conservative New York Times columnist and strategist for/representative of the U.S. capitalist class in a recent column of his entitled […]
Federal workers protest in San Francisco
About 100 to 200 federal workers held a spirited protest in front of the Federal Building in San Francisco today. It was almost entirely federal workers and their unions, with no sign […]
Trump and his fascist friends will violate international law and all established rules!
Like the good fascists they are, Trump and his friends will violate international law and all established rules! by Yorgos Mitralias When, at the beginning of the century, the great American writer […]
Syrian People: Beware of Medea Benjamin!
To the people of Syria who fought so long and so hard and sacrificed so much to overthrow the criminal Assad dictatorship: As supporters of the Syrian revolution, we wish to advise […]
The Trump/Vance/Musk Triumvirate, Part 2
In the first part of this series we showed how the Silicon Valley venture capitalists had led their class in taking over the MAGA movement and Trump’s second presidency. We showed how […]
The Trump/Vance/Musk Triumvirate and the Silicon Valley Capitalists now in charge
The Silicon Valley venture capitalists have taken control of the MAGA movement and the new Trump administration. JD Vance was their intermediary. Their goals are actually even more dangerous than what might […]
video: Protest in S.F. against Trump & Vance channeling Putin
On Sunday, March 2, organizers in the Ukrainian-American community held a protest against Trump/Vance channeling Putin when they met with Zelensky. Here is a video of that event, plus some comments below: […]
Video: Trump & Vance: Putin’s bullies at work
Putin supporters Trump & Vance sabotaged the White House meeting with Zelensky in order to justify making a deal with Putin which will leave Russia in control of 20% of Ukraine and […]
Video: at last somebody confronts a GOP lying hypocrite on CNN!
CNN tends to be like the Democratic Party: booorrring! That’s partly because they always avoid actual confrontation in favor of being nice and polite. Last night, though, CNN’s Van Jones broke the […]
React before it’s too late: Against the Brown International of Putin-Trump-Musk-Netanyahu!
by Yorgos Mitrialis United but desperately alone! United in their slaughter, their bloodshed and their loneliness. And united, too, in the same relentless resistance for life, liberty and national self-determination. The […]
Trump the “peacemaker” like Hitler the “chancellor of peace”!
Together with Musk, Vance and Milei Trump the “peacemaker” like Hitler the “chancellor of peace”! by Yorgos Mitralias Friedenskanzler, i.e. Chancellor of Peace. If we tell you that’s what Hitler was […]
Video: Canadian hockey fans show Trmp what they think of him
NYC Mayor Adams corruption shows why capitalists prefer to rule through “democratic” means.
With all the turmoil surrounding the Trump/Vance/Musk triumvirate, it is easy to lose track of the turmoil/crisis surrounding a local little corruption issue, which is the issue of the corrupt New York […]
Michael Karadjis on the Israel/Hamas truce and “naked ruling class power”
By Michael Karadjis So it’s back to the plan, Israel and Hamas will be, for this weekend anyway, sticking to the plan after all. But an interesting train of events leading to […]
Ten years ago: Looking back at Greece’s Syriza government
A great text by Nadia Valavani* on the first Tsipras government by Yorgos Mitralias Introduction by Oaklandsocialist: Ten years ago, the left wing Syriza government in Greece refused – for a time – to […]
Report from Germany
By “G” in eastern Germany Introduction from Oaklandsocialist: Trump and his MAGA movement are part of a global trend. To understand and oppose it we must see it in that light. That […]
“Indivisible” protests Trump/Musk in Oakland
The group “Indivisible” held their weekly protest against Trump by the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland. Here’s some photos. At least they’re doing something.
Trump as a Ukrainian socialist sees him
Introduction by Oaklandsocialist: It is important to understand how the situation in the U.S. is perceived in Ukraine. Here is the point of view of Alexander Skyba. He is a Ukrainian socialist […]
Video: DOGE’s “Big Balls” linked to Russia. What could possibly go wrong?
Video of CNN report that DOGE’s “Big Balls”, who is over the U.S. Treasury Department and has access to all its files, is linked to Russia. After we made this video, CNN […]
What could possibly go wrong?
Video: “What the f**k is going on?”
“A friend of mine called me yesterday. “John, what the fuck is going on?!!” he demanded.
Auschwitz, the bankruptcy of the idea of progress and the rehabilitation of the utopian dimension of socialism
Why republish a text on Auschwitz and its meaning, written in Greek in the last century? Because, reread today, at a time profoundly marked not only by the genocide of the Palestinians […]
Message from MAGA-land to workers in Ukraine and Syria
Events here in MAGA land hold lessons for workers of all lands (including Ukraine and Syria). As I write this, the news here in the United States is still filled with discussions […]
Report from Ukraine: How Trump paralyzed global healthcare for 90 days and killed millions of people
by Cloud Sevens “Cloud Sevens” is a worker in Ukraine. Here they report on some of the effects of Trump’s actions in Ukraine and around the world. Earlier this February, Trump issued […]
Union leaders prove medical science wrong
“I have a dream.” The words reverberated through my head. The date was February 1, 2025, and on that day, the union leadership, and Sean Fain, president of the United Auto Workers […]
Trump takes office, goes full MAGA
This is getting ugly quickly. Trump wasted no time proving that he can learn from experience, and what he’s learned is not to rely on the traditional old-line conservatives. At the celebratory […]
Protest against Trump in San Francisco
I went to the pre-inauguration protest against Trump in San Francisco. I had a few interesting conversations, especially on what has happened with the unions and how the union leadership is falling […]
The Trump administration: A leap into the great unknown
A signal on how far Trump will be willing to go as far as unleashing actual fascists on US society will be whether he pardons Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath […]
A dream that could happen
Last night I had a dream. In it I saw a NY Times headline, “President Trump releases Stewart Rhodes.”1 In that state between consciousness and sleep, my semi-conscious imagination took the dream […]
How violent can MAGA get?
Introduction: “Frank” is a well-paid white worker and a socialist who lives in a largely white neighborhood in a major East Coast city. In his life, he gets around and talks with […]
Rising conflicts within Trump coalition: Preview of what’s to come
The wheels have not fallen off the MAGA bus yet, but the lug nuts are coming loose. Last Sunday, Dec. 22, Oaklandsocialist published an article (Can Trump institute fascism?) which analyzed the […]
Video: Message to Gen Z and Gen A
In all of history, it’s been the youth who sparked off a wider working class movement. Time for that to happen in the U.S. again.
Video: “President Elon Musk vs. Donald J (for “Jackass”) Trump
And now, for your viewing pleasure:
Can Trump institute fascism?
The Republicans’ recent budget fiasco, plus one or two other developments, including developments on the labor front, reveal a lot about fissures and conflicts that already exist within the Trump camp and […]
Video: Interview with Wael AlAmri, Syrian journalist and freedom fighter
Oaklandsocialist was honored to interview Syrian journalist and freedom fighter, Wael AlAmri.We started by Wael’s talking about the Assad regime and the Syrian revolution. At around 6:35 I asked Wael about his […]
The fascist threat is becoming clearer as Milei calls for the creation of the Brown International!
Introduction by Oaklandsocialist: This article by Yorgos Mitralias was written before the inspiring overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria. Assad himself, and his mentor Putin, form an important link in the […]
video: Brian Thompson assassination: “Why all the hoopla over victimless crime?”
Here is Oaklandsocialist’s video about the reactions, both popular and official, to the assassination of Brian Thompson. We see here why there can never be a left liberal equivalent to the likes […]
Brian Thompson assassination: Official figures are shocked at reaction
The official figures, liberals and conservatives alike, are shocked – shocked I tell you! – at the reaction to the assassination of Brian Thompson. (My personal favorite is “why all this hoopla […]
Assad is gone!
Bashar al Assad is gone! December 7, 2024 will go down in history as one of the world’s most brutal dictators ever fled the country. Sadnaya prison, that scene of untold horrors […]
Podcast: Interview with Craig Unger
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Interview: Craig Unger, author of “House of Trump, House of Putin”
Here is the video of our interview with Craig Unger. Below it is the text of that interview. This interview will also appear on Oaklandsocialist’s podcast. Also, see our review of Craig’s […]
Report from inside Aleppo
Oaklandsocialist read an important report from inside Aleppo and we reposted it here. We did that after requesting permission and receiving no response. Since then, we were asked to remove it and […]
More on “stolen election” claim
The claim that Trump stole the election seems to be gathering even more support. So I did a little more research on the claim. As far as I can see, they are […]
Trump and the European right: an attraction-repulsion relationship that does not bode well…
by Yorgos Mitralias What to think of Trump’s return to the White House? For the European bourgeoisies and their parties, the answer should be and has been positive and even enthusiastic. But […]
Podcast: Trump receives setbacks
If you prefer to listen to a podcast of my latest article on the setbacks Trump has received, it can be found here.
Trump receives setbacks
There is an ancient Greek myth about two monsters, Scylla and Charybdis, who sat on either side of a narrow passage of water. Sailors had to make sure that in avoiding one […]
Podcast: Did Trump/Putin steal the election via vote machine hacking?
here is a podcast of my recent article on that issue.
Did Trump/Putin steal the election via hacked voting machines?
Claims are circulating that the recent election was stolen by hacked voting machines and/or some other means. In this hour of extreme danger, it’s more important than ever to get our facts […]
Report from rural California: Racists emboldened
Oaklandsocialist received the following report from somebody living in rural California: “Things are already getting bad up here again since the orange piece of shit was elected. “In the past week we’ve […]
The coming Trump regime: Chaos and repression – Part 2
Introduction This is the second part of a two part series on the perspectives for the coming Trump regime. In Part One we discussed Some of Trump’s major appointments and their significance. […]
The coming Trump regime: Chaos and repression
“Chaos and repression” are the words that can best sum up the coming Trump regime. This is the environment in which fascism thrives. Facing that, any thinking adult will have experienced anger, […]
Video: Dutch politician condemns Maccabi thugs
Stephan van Baarle, leader of the DENK party, explains what really happened when Israeli soldiers on leave created a riot in Amsterdam when the Israeli soccer team played there.
Message to a “never vote lesser evil” voter
by Alessandro Morosin To Mr. “never lesser evil” voter: You say you campaigned against Trump and project 2025, but you indeed mightily argued AGAINST voting for Harris. As a fascist Amerika begins […]
Cheryl Zuur: an “emotional roller coaster”, “magical thinking”, and more
Cheryl Zuur is the retired president of AFSCME Local 444 and is the co-chair of the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign. On Sunday, November 10, the USSC held a forum on the election […]
Video: Compare how a black Democrat and a white academic talk about MAGA
U.S. voters usher in full-fledged authoritarianism and bigotry
“They are frightened, confused and lonely.” That’s how the worker who reported on the racist and misogynistic and nationalist comments in Oaklandsocialist’s previous post described the mood among tens of millions of […]
A vote for Trump is a vote for white supremacy
A white worker in an East Coast city has sent us this report of what white Trump supporters say. Those are quotes said in front of other (white) people that garnered nods […]
Video: Trump’s fascist rally at Madison Square Garden
Trump/MAGA channeled the US Nazi rally at the same venue 85 years earlier. Here are video clips of both… and more
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign statement on U.S. elections
Oaklandsocialist comment: Last night in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, the Trump campaigned channeled a U.S. Nazi rally 85 years ago at the same venue. All the most racist memes were […]
Vladimir Putin: godfather and federator of the international far right!
Introduction by oaklandsocialist: This article is directly related to the issue of the upcoming elections because of Trump’s close ties to Putin, as Oaklandsocialist has docujmented many times, going back to the […]
The Irish to Israel: “May you and your Pharoah Government burn in hell.”
By an Irish-American socialist There is a transition taking place in the consciousness of a great number of people who oppose Israeli Apartheid and belligerence to not shirk from accusations of anti-semitism. […]
Pro-Trump “socialists” channel the history of “Third Period Communism”
“We have the power to take an historic stand and defeat this war mongering Senator Harris…. To win this election [the Democrats] need this city [Dearborn], they need this state [Michigan]. We […]
What will Jill Stein’s 1% do?
By Reza Fiyouzat The question assumes that the Green Party will get that much of the total votes cast nationally. What That Number Will Do In a system of winner-take-all (except in […]
Netanyahu: a pure-blooded fascist by origin, training and mentors…
by Yorgos Mitralias Why has Bibi Netanyahu become the darling and idol of racist, neo-fascist and neo-Nazi right-wing scum in Europe and around the world? The answer is not difficult: these scum […]
Longshore strike: pressure on Biden and a temporary victory
Oaklandsocialist introduction: The longshore is the only major industry in the United States that is still nearly 100% union. That along with the central role of international trade made the east coast/Gulf […]
A world spinning out of control as Israel invades Lebanon and Zionism, Hezbollah and Hamas oppose and also rest upon each other
As the Netanyahu government drives towards a regional war, the most important task of socialists is to understand the nature of this ongoing catastrophe, how it got to this state of affairs, […]
Why socialists should argue for a vote for the Democrats: Some lessons from history
Somebody is going to occupy the White House in 2025, and that somebody will either be Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. The question is: “does it matter which one?” Given the crisis […]
When Israel’s accomplices accustom us to a monstrous, heartless and inhuman world!
by Yorgos Mitralias Worse than Israel’s crimes is the fact that the entire so-called “civilized” world follows and comments on them as if they were just a video game. When, of course, it’s […]
“Unfortunate conversations”: A report from the South
Here is a report from an observer in the South. I had some unfortunate conversations with some young women predominantly that were terrifying. They are all in on anti-reproductive rights (meaning they […]
The Teamsters’ Sad State of Affairs under Sean Obrien
The Teamsters’ sad state of affairs under Sean O’brien On Sept. 18, the leadership of the Teamsters Union announced that they will not endorse any presidential candidate this year. This is […]
A primer on inflation, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris
Today, the issue of inflation threatens to help put Trump back into the White House. As a capitalist politician, Harris can neither explain nor deal with the issue adequately. That is why […]
Can Israel crush its “democratic” form of domestic rule?
Oaklandsocialist recently carried this interview with the courageous Israeli anti-apartheid activist Ofer Neiman. One issue that really requires further discussion is how far can Israel go in crushing democracy domestically. Recent reports […]
The Great Debate
Donald Trump whined that the debate was “stacked” and he and his supporters complained about him having been fact checked in real time. On the other side, Kamala Harris challenged him to […]
A left that does not take the lead in the fight against climate catastrophe has no reason to exist!
By Yorgos Mitralias What follows is not addressed to the right and its supporters (economic, social and other) who – unfortunately – are doing their job very well. What follows is addressed […]
Jill Stein, Cornel West, Stalking horses for Trump and Putin, and Assad, Part 3: the left and the elections
Introduction: Oaklandsocialist analyzes the candidacies of the two main “independent” lefts, Jill Stein and Cornel West. In Part 1 we analyzed the Jill Stein campaign. In Part 2 we analyzed the Cornel West campaign. […]
Gun laws in Georgia
Georgia prohibits the possession or control of a handgun by any person under age This prohibition does not apply if the underage person is: Attending a hunter education course or a firearms […]
Jill Stein & Cornel West, Stalking horses for Trump, Putin and Assad, Part 2: Cornel West
Introduction: Oaklandsocialist analyzes the candidacies of the two main “independent” lefts, Jill Stein and Cornel West. In Part 1 we analyzed the Jill Stein campaign. Here, we discuss the campaign of Cornel […]
Jill Stein & Cornel West, Stalking horses for Trump, Putin and Assad, Part 1: Jill Stein
Introduction: Oaklandsocialist analyzes the candidacies of the two main “independent” lefts, Jill Stein and Cornel West. Here, in part one, we discuss Jill Stein’s campaign. In Part 2 we will discuss the […]
Report from Israel: from “wary of a major war” to “something’s gotta give”
Oaklandsocialist sent a series of questions to Ofer Neiman, an Israeli activist in Israelis Against Apartheid. Those questions were sent, and answered, before the bodies of the six hostages were discovered. In […]
Election update: The Kamala Harris campaign
What would it mean for Trump to return to the White House? Trump’s base among the fascist Christian nationalists or his encouraging assaults on the media is all one needs to answer […]
Israeli war criminals testify
The following is an article in Israel’s daily newspaper Haaretz. It contains interviews with soldiers at Israel’s torture facility, Sde Teiman, which is called a “detention center”. There have been many previous […]
Oppose California bills aimed at covering up Israeli war crimes
The Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign has initiated this statement. We urge all readers of Oaklandsocialist to sign the statement and pass it around. What would be especially useful is to find teachers […]
Video: Republicans’ plans to overturn 2024 elections if they don’t win
Here is a video of my presentation to the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign on the Republicans’ plans to overturn November’s elections if they don’t win them. All too many people are ignoring […]
DNC update: What lies in the background
The ongoing Democratic Party convention should be seen in two related contexts: One is the threat of a fascist-connected ethno-nationalist returning to power, this time far better prepared than he was in […]
World War or World Revolution?
Introduction by Oaklandsocialist: Just a week ago, we published a pamphlet on the nature of this period. We somewhat tentatively concluded that, after alternating waves of revolutionary and counter-revolutionary periods, it seems […]
Democratic Party Convention: Day One
On Monday night the Democratic Party celebrated leaving the 20th century and entering the 21st. Symbolic of that was the “love” expressed for Joe Biden when he spoke. “We love you, Joe,” […]
Video: Christian nationalists’ plans to overturn November elections
Upcoming forum by Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign on plans of Christian nationalist Republicans to overturn November elections. Register for forum here: https://bit.ly/4dpgoU5
Elections 2024 and white supremacy in the United States
Introduction from Oaklandsocialist: A debate is under way within the left about whether or not to vote for the Democrats. Some on the left oppose voting for the Democrats’ and use the […]
The nature of this period: An Oaklandsocialist pamphlet
“We could be living in a year in which authoritarians take or keep power in nations across Europe, Latin America and in the U.S., while Putin continues to make advances in Ukraine […]
Can Republicans steal the 2024 election?
Donald Trump is floundering. He’s staying off the campaign trail, with his first appearance in a week scheduled for Montana, a state he is likely to win by double digits in November. […]
Video debate: Should socialists support voting for Democrats in 2024… or ever?
Introduction: The Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign recently held a debate on whether socialists should support voting for Democrats in 2024, or ever. Lifelong socialist, former president of AFSCME Local 444 and […]
Election 2024 update: Harris picks Tim Walz for running mate
“How often in the world do you wake up knowing that a black woman kicked that bastard’s ass and sent him on the road?” Tim Walz, presumptive Democratic nominee for Vice President. […]
Kamala Harris rallies 10,000 enthusiastic supporters in Atlanta: What are her prospects? Where is it leading?
Yesterday I signed up for and attended an online meeting of the Kamala Harris for president campaign. I did so for a couple of interrelated reasons: I think it’s extremely important to […]
Report from Philadelphia
Oaklandsocialist notes: The author of this article is a young-ish working class guy who lives in a mainly white working class neighborhood in Philadelphia. I went to a shuffleboard event here in […]
Big Brother is already at work! Urgent resistance before it’s too late…
by Yorgos Mitralias A highlight of the Olympic flame’s peregrinations through France was its meeting with a “102-year-old former Resistance fighter”, which was celebrated by the country’s media, who were quick to […]
Don’t support Jill Stein: Clay Claiborne comments
Introduction from Oaklandsocialist: Here, Clay Claiborn comments on our previous article “Don’t support Jill Stein! A reply to Howie Hawkins”. Readers may also be interested in Clay’s 2020 article “Why Joe Biden […]
Don’t support Jill Stein! a reply to Howie Hawkins
While any serious person is horrified at the prospect of a Trump/Vance presidency, some on the left are actually arguing that it won’t make that much of a difference. One would think […]
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party
It’s now official: Joe Biden is bowing out of the presidential race. It’s also all but official: Kamala Harris will be his replacement. This is extremely good news. Now there is a […]
Republican convention: Teamster “reform” leader channels Gregor Strasser and betrays the working class
Gregor Strasser returned to life at the Republican Convention yesterday. He returned in the body of Teamsters president and “reform” union leader Sean O’Brien. Strasser, let us remember, was the German Nazi […]
From attempted assassination of Trump to assassination of legal repercussions for Trump: The media shifts its focus
It is amazing how quickly the media focus shifts. Just a few hours ago it was all Trump assassination attempt all the time. Now it’s “all Trump classified documents case thrown out […]
The 2024 Election: The UK shifts to the left while the socialist left needs reorganisation and reinvention
by Richard Finnegan in London A lively debate has begun over the interpretation of the election with the centre right Labour Party claiming a landslide win and a mandate to do whatever […]
U.S. election update: what the polls are showing
Two key political events will happen today. First will be a meeting with Democratic senators and Biden staffers. Second will be Biden’s press conference. Let’s consider where things seem to stand as […]
Team Biden apparently weathers the storm… for now
Who knows? Maybe Team Biden can actually pull it off. After all, Trump is really a very vulnerable candidate. But the developing conflict between the mainstream media and the Democrats is significant. […]
Aplutsoc editorial on French election results
Date: July 7, 2024Author: aplutsoc1 Comment The results of the French legislative elections have considerable significance. This is a defeat for the RN, the 3rd force in the National Assembly when it was expected to […]
Biden establishes residence in new state – the State of Denial
Joe Biden established his residence in the 51st state of the country in his ABC interview on Thursday night. That was the State of Denial. He once again had trouble putting sentences […]
Never vote for any Democrat? Here’s what one Marxist has to say
Introduction: Oaklandsocialist is on an email list of supposed Marxists. Recently, there was another of the interminable debates about whether or not to vote for a Democrat to keep Trump out. Some […]
MAGA Supreme Court drops the pretense
Supreme Court Chief (in)Justice John Roberts has dropped the pretense. Until now, he tried to maintain a degree of credibility that the Supreme Court was apolitical and non-partisan, that its decisions were […]
Video commentary on MAGA Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity: politics by other means
The MAGA US supreme court’s ruling on presidential immunity is simply a political ruling cloaked in legal terms. Why do CNN, the Democratic party and others take it as anything but that? […]
The French elections, Putin, and the war in Ukraine: from Aplutsoc
From aplutsoc.org Paris, June 30, 2024 The arrival of the RN [the far right “National Rally”, formerly the National Front] in government in France would be a major asset for Putin, would play into […]
Biden, toast and the DNC
If you eat toast for breakfast, you will now be crazy about Joe Biden because that’s what he appears to be: toast. And stale toast with no butter or jelly at that. […]
Supreme Court MAGA majority punts the ball to help their patron saint
Donald Trump has an unrecognized political action committee (PAC). It is the MAGA judges from judge Aileen Cannon in Florida, who is presiding over the stolen classified documents case, to the Supreme […]
France: With the New Popular Front against the deadly fascist threat!
By Yorgos Mitralias When, just after the announcement of the results of the European elections, French President Macron surprised everyone by deciding to dissolve the Parliament and to call general elections for June 30, […]
Video: Part 4, why Marxism opposes individual terrorism
Here is the concluding part of my series on why Marxism opposes individual terrorism. In this part, we talk about the dead end of alternative to individual terrorism. That alternative is international, […]
Video: Why Marxism opposes individual terrorism, Part 3
Third part in a 4 part series on why Marxism opposes individual terrorism. In this part we discuss how and why that strategy came to dominate in Palestine, how the PLO and […]
Video: Swiss “peace” conference – Estonian P.M. warns against land for “peace”
The Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign was the only ones to warn against the tendency of Western governments to be willing to trade Ukrainian land for “peace” with Russia at the recent Swiss […]
video: Kavita Krishnan on India’s recent elections, Part 1
Indian ethno-nationalist Narendra Modi received a bit of a setback in the recent election in that country. Here, Oaklandsocialist talked with Indian socialist and campaigner for democratic rights, Kavita Krishnan, about those […]
Video of the UC Santa Barbara encampment
Here is a short video of my time visiting the Palestine encampment at UC Santa Barbara
Convicted!
Convicted! The United States now has a former president who is a convicted felon. He adds this to the list of his other accomplishments – convicted of rape, successful lawsuits for slander, […]
Caitlin Johnstone: Another Trojan horse for the Putinists
Introduction: This is a short article about Caitlin Johnstone. For those who have never heard of her, she is a former astrologer who now makes a living writing about politics. She […]
Does Netanyahu actually believe what he’s saying?
“The truth is that in the area of our homeland… now lives a large population of Palestinians. We do not want to rule over them. We do not want to run their […]
Even if it avoids civil war, Israel’s final crisis looks cataclysmic!
by Yorgos Mitralias In July 2021, commenting on Albert Einstein’s prophetic warnings of Israel’s disastrous future as early as 1948, we concluded our text with the following observation and, at the same […]
Progressive Democrats of America and the muddled politics of the left in the United States
I got a message from Progressive Democrats of America (PDA). They are supporting Dennis Kucinich who is running for office as an independent. For those who aren’t familiar with him, Kucinich was […]
From South Africa to Israel, the Greek state has always had a soft spot for apartheid
When Mr. Mitsotakis criminalizes, threatens and represses students who defend international legality! by Yorgos Mitralias “If some people think they can repeat what they’ve seen in other countries and occupy universities, pitch […]
Trump’s legal trials and our tribulations
I got a call from a friend of mine who’s been watching the Trump trial in New York City as well as Trump’s other legal issues. He wanted reassurance that he’s not […]
Sign on to Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign appeal: “Unite the struggles!”
The Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign has taken an important initiative in launching an appeal to unite the various world liberation struggles. Oaklandsocialist has signed on to it and urges others to do […]
Report from inside the Federal Reserve Bank (the “Fed”)
The people at the top of the Federal Reserve Bank, the “Fed”, are the direct representatives of finance capital in the United States. Therefore, what they are saying behind the scenes is […]
Video: Why Marxism opposes individual terrorism, Part 2
In part 2 of this slideshow series on the strategy of individual terrorism, we look at the results of that strategy in Chile (1973), Iran (1979) and South Africa (1980s). Learn from […]
Message to “Never Biden” voters
I’ve had some extended discussions with people who no matter what aren’t going to vote to keep Trump out, by voting for Biden. These are people I basically agree with on most […]
UC Berkeley Palestine occupation report, April 29
I was at the occupation at the UC Berkeley campus today. Overall, this is opening the space for serious, in depth discussions. Here is a leaflet I handed out. Below that are […]
Video: Why Marxism opposes individual terrorism, part 1
Here is part one of my video/slideshow on why Marxism opposes individual terrorism. In this part we discuss the widespread confusion (at best) among many socialists on the issue, discuss the difference […]
Video: UC Berkeley students occupy Sproul Plaza in Palestine protest
Here is a short video I made of the student occupation at UC Berkeley in protest against Israeli genocide and US complicity. As you will see from my comments, it is clear […]
The mood in Pennsylvania: an election observer in Philadelphia reports
Pennsylvania held its primary elections on April 23. Here is a report of what one voter in Philadelphia observed: Out of curiosity, I decided to observe a polling station in Philadelphia during […]
Why Marxism opposes individual terrorism
This article discusses: Why the confusion on the issue of individual terrorism is disastrous for socialism. The fundamental difference between individual terrorism and a genuine armed struggle. The classic Marxist position on […]
Video: Putin draws the left into far right web
Here is a video/slideshow presentation I made on how large layers of the left have allowed themselves to be drawn into Putin’s far right web. Some have allowed themselves to enter this […]
Iran retaliates: is all-out Iran-Israel war coming?
Tehran has retaliated with a barrage of rockets and drones for Israel’s terrorist bombing of the Iranian consulate in Syria. This barrage is still going on while I am writing. However, some […]
Gaza, Ukraine and the shaky ethics of the international left
Gaza and Ukraine exacerbate the ethical problem of an already shaky international left! By Yorgos Mitralias The revelation of the enormous ethical problem caused to the international left by the Russian war in Ukraine and the Israeli […]
Upcoming forum: Putin draws the left into the far right
Online forum: Putin draws the left into the far right Presented by the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign International working class solidarity is the heart and soul of socialism, yet major sectors of […]
Background to assassination of World Central Kitchen workers
“From the river to the sea, Israel will be free…” to do anything it likes towards its goal of ethnically cleansing all Palestinians. That is the message it sent with the rockets […]
RFK Jr. comes to Oakland… sort of
On March 26, RFK Jr. brought his presidential campaign to Oakland… kind of. I was there, but RFK onluy showed up via teleconference. The fact that he wouldn’t set foot in Oakland […]
Video on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Putin draws the “left” further into the far right
Latest in my slideshow series on the “left” being drawn into Putin’s far right web, in this case regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ronna McDaniel and depraved Republicans land on their feet
NBC’s hiring of recently fired chair of the Republican Party, Ronna McDaniel, is causing a bit of a kerfluffle. But the scandal is that McDaniel loyally served Trump after he attempted to […]
ISIS K attack in Moscow: first thoughts
Al Jazeera is giving credibility to ISIS (ISIL) K’s taking responsibility for this terrorist attack. This group has a long history of attacking Russian targets due, first and foremost, to Russia’s role […]
“I’m really rich”
“I’m really rich. I have total net worth of $8.73bn. I’m not doing that to brag. I’m doing that to show that’s the kind of thinking our country needs.” So said Donald […]
Putin draws the left into the far right
Russia’s fascist connected Putin is creating great confusion within the left, including the socialist left. He and his agents and assets (both conscious and otherwise) are drawing significant numbers of lefts, including […]
Video: The Syrian revolution vs. the Putinized “left”
Here is the second part in my slideshow series on the Putinized left. This short slideshow is on how this “left” came to support a counter revolution in Syria. This same Putinized […]
U.N. report on allegations of rape committed on Oct. 7
Here is an analysis of the UN report on allegations of rape allegations and how some on the left have responded to that report: We all know that the Israeli regime ranks […]
Video: “Left” fascism past and present
Fascist connected Putin has gathered into his orbit a layer of “lefts”. In order to understand what is happening, we have to go back 100 years and look at the “left” wing […]
Republicans on Supreme Court join Team Trump; Democrats silent
The Supreme Court majority has placed the court onto the Committee to Elect Donald Trump. There’s no other way of seeing it. Not only that, but they’ve done it with the complicity […]
Video: The REAL reason for Biden’s reluctance to fully arm Ukraine
Even before the QAnon Republicans’ holdup, in my opinion, there is a lot of misunderstanding of why Biden has been so slow in providing all the arms to Ukraine that it needs […]
Statement On Second Anniversary Of Russian Invasion Of Ukraine
The European Network in Solidarity with Ukraine (ENSU) has published the following statement on the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Oaklandsocialist supports this statement and urges groups and individual to […]
Trying to understand the genocidal drift of Israeli society!
By Yorgos Mitralias The methodical extermination of the Palestinian people, which the Israeli army has been successfully carrying out for the past four months, does not fall from the sky, and would not […]
Video: The real Republicans
CNN interviewed some nice, middle class, white Republican ladies in S. Carolina. But what do they really represent?
Video: Seize Russian & Ukrainian lligarchs’ REAL assets!
As the QAnon Republicans refuse to allow aid to Ukraine, billions of dollars of assets of Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs can and should be seized for that aid.
Discussion with DSA activist
I had a text message exchange with a member of East Bay DSA who had contacted me to try to get me to campaign for Jovanka Beckles, yet another liberal Democrat they […]
Review of forum on the “new labor movement”
On Saturday, Feb. 3, the administrators of a Marxist email list called “Marxmail” put on a forum called “the new US labor movement”. Speakers were Bill Fletcher jr., former official of […]
U.S. election perspectives update
It is increasingly looking like the next presidential election will be a repeat of the 2020 matchup of Biden vs. Trump. A serious argument can be made that Biden’s support for Israel’s […]
Don’t forget Germany & Switzerland: When Europe & US nail shut the Israeli coffin of the Palestinian people
The instructive cases of Germany and Switzerland When the West nails the Israeli coffin of the Palestinian people! by Yorgos Mitralias First the facts: UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the […]
Growing divisions in Biden administration
Growing opposition within Democratic Party & in State Department to Biden’s support for Israel. Changes in Israel since Biden met Golda Meir in 1973. Biden living in the past regarding both Israel […]
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister: “Israel pursues objectives similar to those of Russia”!
By Yorgos Mitralias Those who still have doubts about the existence of “similarities” between the wars waged by Mr Putin and Mr Netanyahu against Ukraine and the Palestinians, respectively, can now be […]
Poem: “Where will they wander?”
Where will they wander? by Anonymous Where will these Zionists wander next, with their bombast of Biblical entitlements, their A-bombs and Uzis in hand, to conquer homelands where others reside? Whose ancient […]
Iowa caucus results and beyond
Trump’s victory in the Iowa caucus was a lot stronger than many people realize. To his 51% must be added the 7.7% of Ramaswamy votes. In fact, once DeSantis falls by […]
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign forum on history of Zionism, Part One
The Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign is holding a three part series on the history of Zionism and the struggle against it. Here is the recording of part one of this series. This […]
slideshow: the early history of Zionism
Oaklandsocialist presentation to forum of Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign: Text Comrades, a few weeks ago, Israeli columnist Amira Hass wrote a column in the Israeli daily paper “Haaretz” in which she asked […]
Israel methodically kills journalists it cannot silence!
by Yorgos Mitrialis No criminal wants witnesses to his crimes. And neither does Israel, of course. That’s why it does everything it can to be able to commit its crimes in Gaza […]
Reminder: Forum series on history of Zionism
Reminder: Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign forum on history of Zionism The Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign presents a zoom presentation & discussion: The history of Zionism & the struggle against it, 1916-1967 Sunday, […]
With Palestine and Ukraine against Russia, NATO and Israel Greta leads the way!
By Yorgos Mitrialis And yet, despite the gloomy news, despite the rampant barbarism, despite the depression that pervades everything, there is still light and hope! And this light and this hope are […]
Former AFL-CIO official Bill Fletcher interviewed on Democracy Now
Former AFL-CIO official and now leftist Bill Fletcher was interviewed on Democracy Now recently. Part one of that interview is here. Part two is here. Both include transcripts. It’s hard to know […]
Will Israel create a holocaust in Gaza?
Recently the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz revealed that the Israeli military is the sponsor of a Telegram channel called 72 Virgins. That channel is composed of videos made by Israeli soldiers in […]
“Traditional values” in Russia, the rise of Traditionalism, and homophobia
Putin and Russian Traditionalism Traditionalism: a global phenomenon Christian fundamentalist Traditionalism in the United States A summary of what Traditionalism is and the reasons for its global rise Traditionalism, the patriarchal nuclear […]
What is Hamas? How did it originate? Should socialists give it any support?
With a reported 15,500 people in Gaza killed by Israel and the number rising every day, millions of people will tend to sympathize with anybody who stands up to Israel’s genocidal death […]
Bay Area protests Israel… once again
Here is a video of yesterday’s protest in San Francisco against Israel’s resumption of bombing Gaza. Below it are some photos plus my written comments on the protest. Within 24 hours of […]
Israeli BDS/anti-apartheid activist Ofer Neiman on military perspectives for war in Gaza and politics inside Israel
Israeli anti-apartheid and BDS activist Ofer Neiman discusses: Is Israel boxed into a corner militarily in Gaza? The special role that Gaza City plays in Gaza itself and how that relates to […]
Interview with Zachary Lockman, author of “Comrades and Enemies”
Oaklandsocialist interviewed Zachary Lockman, author of the book “Comrades and Enemies”. This important book reviews relations between Arab and Jewish workers in Palestine, starting in the 1920’s. Video of interview is below, […]
My speech at Oakland City Council
Last night (Nov. 27) Oakland City Council had an “emergency” meeting to consider a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. About 3-400 people turned out, and many of them spoke. The […]
Yes, enjoying nature is political: Thanksgiving Day at Rodeo Beach
Yes, nowadays enjoying nature is totally political. Plus, we all need a little beauty and pleasure in our lives. Here’s an important part of how we get ours.
The past, present and future of the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign: My own personal view
I was one of the founding members of the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign. Here is a presentation I made about our group’s past, present and future. It includes the method I believe […]
Video/slideshow: Palestine, the Arab Spring, and the Iranian Revolution
Short video/slideshow: We need to think through what is the long term resolution to ending Zionist oppression. It seems to me that it must be on a regional basis and that the […]
When Netanyahu accustoms us to an inhuman world without rights or rules, where the law of the jungle reigns!
by Yorgos Mitralias While the operation to exterminate and ethnically cleanse the Palestinians in Gaza has – quite rightly – monopolized the world’s attention for weeks, little or no attention is being […]
Video: The historic role of “labor Zionism”
This is part 2 of Oaklandsocialist’s slideshow presentation of our pamphlet on the rise of Zionism and the founding of the State of Israel. This part will examine the role of “labor […]
Report on conversation with Chinese bureaucrats
Sometimes I write articles that are fantasies. This is not one of them. This is a report of what somebody actually told me about a conversation she had with a couple of […]
The present situation: Is it real or are we tripping on acid?
I had a conversation with a young friend yesterday. He had been active in Occupy Oakland and was agreeing with me that things today were totally unpredictable back then. “If somebody in […]
Oaklandsocialist on Hard Knock Radio
Oaklandsocialist John Reimann was interviewed by well known DJ Davey D on KPFA’s Hard Knock Radio. Listen to it here.
Protests against Israeli/U.S. genocide should be democratically organized
The new antiwar movement: Learning from the mistakes of the past
Biden & Democrats Trump and Republicans Alternative to both & learning from Vietnam War protests Building a working class alternative to both capitalist parties It is not enough for this new movement […]
Bay Area protests Israeli war crimes & Biden’s support for them
It’s difficult to know where to even start. There is so much to say about yesterday’s San Francisco protest against Israel and Biden’s support for their war crimes. The photos below hopefully […]
slideshow/video – The New Apartheid: the rise of Zionism and the founding of the State of Israel, part 1
I’m making my pamphlet, The New Apartheid: The rise of Zionism and the founding of the state of Israel, into a slideshow. Here’s part one:
New protest movement poses important questions
Introduction: A new movement is developing. This movement is different from previous ones like the protests against the US invasion of Iraq in that it takes place as youth are facing a […]
New youth movement developing with enormous advantages over those of the past
“The Democratic Party’s yearslong unity behind President Biden is beginning to erode over his steadfast support of Israel in its escalating war with the Palestinians, with a left-leaning coalition of young voters […]
Congressional House Speaker crisis, chaos, the Democrats and a new order
QAnon Republicans take over the House of Representatives. US capitalist class losing control. Democratic Party, including its “progressive” wing, trying to board a train that’s long left the station, both regarding Republicans […]
Upcoming Zoom forum – Palestine & Ukraine: Unite the Struggles!
Palestine & Ukraine: Unite the Struggles A Zoom forum presented by Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign Sunday, October 29, 2023 9AM PST / 12PM EST To register for this forum, […]
Middle Eastern tragedy continues with no end in sight
By Yorgos Mitralias Of course, at the root of the creation and perpetuation of the Middle East tragedy lies the founding of the State of Israel as an exclusively Jewish state, and […]
Al-Ahli Hospital strike: New forensic evidence seems to show Israel responsible
Question: Does it matter who actually fired the rocket that killed hundreds at the al Ahli Hospital in Gaza? Answer: Yes it matters because if it can be established that it was […]
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign: “We Stand with the Palestinian people”
Statement of the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign We stand with the Palestinian people The Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign was formed to build support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s imperialist invasion. However, we […]
Israel/Gaza and possible crisis in Biden administration
Joe Biden came into office based on appeals to return to a day gone by. He pledged to restore the “soul of America”. He pledged a return to “bipartisanship”, meaning collaborating with […]
Protest for Palestine in Flensburg, Germany
While we were visiting Flensburg in northern Germany, we joined a protest about Gaza. Below are a couple of photos plus a video.
A bizarre “peace” award
Interview with Cheryl Zuur, co-chair of the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign, about a “peace” award being given to neoliberal, privatizing and Putin apologizing economist Jeffrey Sachs.
Middle East stalemates and carnages: Beyond Zionism and Jihadism
by Yorgos Mitralias More than at any time in the 75 years of the State of Israel’s existence, these days we have witnessed the spectacular yet tragic collapse of the Zionist movement’s great […]
Assorted comments on Palestine/Israel crisis
Below is a collection of comments of mine on Facebook (and one email) on the unfolding disaster/Israeli war crimes in Israel/Palestine. Oct. 13 I just watched a news clip from BBC showing […]
Background to crisis is “Israel’s colonial hubris” – interview with Ofer Neiman, Israeli anti apartheid activist
Ofer Neiman is an Israeli socialist and Palestinian rights, anti apartheid activist. In this interview he discusses the present crisis and some of its background What were the conditions, what was the situation, […]
Crisis in Gaza and Israel: Preliminary thoughts
Just when Biden (and Trump before him), Netanyahu and bin Salman thought they had the entire Palestinian population well under control, Israel and the world received a shock of as great magnitude […]
House Speaker removed: Another step towards (political) civil war?
It took nearly a week and a mere 15 tries for Kevin McCarthy to secure his lifelong dream of becoming House Speaker. But this didn’t come close to the record, which […]
Chaos in US House of Representatives not just petty wrangling
The chaos in the US House of Representatives will have immediate effects at home and longer term domestic and global effects. This crisis is an example of the crisis of U.S. politics […]
One helluva week
Last week was one helluva week, a week in which: The federal government came within hours of shutting down entirely, due to the machinations of the QAnon Republicans whose goal, as the […]
Niger, Siberia and the global uranium wars
By Bill Weinberg Transcript from CounterVortex podcast of Sept. 23 Oaklandsocialist publishes another transcript of a podcast of Bill Weinberg. If you find value in these articles, we urge readers to subscribe to Bill’s […]
Matt Gaetz: From Speaker of the House to 47th President of the United States
Little did anybody expect that one more teensy tiny government shutdown would have the effect that it did, but when House Speaker Kevin McCarthy… Well, let’s back up a bit: Back last […]
Review of forum on socialist orientation towards 2024 elections
Last Sunday (Sept. 17) a forum was held on how socialists should orient towards the 2024 elections. I was one of the panelists. The following is what I presented, followed by some […]
Oaklandsocialist to participate in debate on 2024 elections this Sunday
Save the Date! September 24th 11:00 AM PDT/2:00 PM EDT Socialists and the 2024 Elections in the USA An online forum brought to you by the Marxmail.world List Register Here The Marxism […]
Video: 2024 election preview – House Judiciary Committee quizzes Merrick Garland
Last Wednesday, the QAnon controlled House Judiciary Committee quizzed Attorney General Merrick Garland. That hearing was important if for no other reason than that it gives us a taste of what the […]
Why socialists must argue for arms for Ukraine and how to make that argument
The left and climate catastrophe: a mere “alibi” for the rulers?
by Yorgos Mitralias As Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis invokes – for the umpteenth time – the climate crisis as an alibi to mask his responsibility for the successive natural disasters that have […]
The philosophical musings of Enzo the dog
“I cannot speak, so I listen very well. I never interrupt, I never deflect the course of the conversation with a comment of my own. People, if you pay attention to them, […]
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine: Did NATO make him do it?
by Ilya Matveev Sections of the Western left have developed a narrative according to which Russia has been gradually surrounded by NATO and that supposedly “provoked” Putin. It’s increasingly difficult to sustain […]
“Workers have to unite across the oceans” – interview with South African socialist Trevor Ngwane
Here is an interview with South African socialist, scholar and working class fighter Trevor Ngwane. Among other things, Trevor discusses: his own history of struggle, the role of the ANC and […]
50th anniversary of a coup
Today marks the 50th anniversary of “another” 9-11. That is, the anniversary of the coup in Chile that overthrew the socialist president Salvador Allende. That coup was led by General Augusto Pinochet, […]
The Trump trials: A gathering storm?
Like a “weather disturbance” gathering strength as it moves across the Atlantic, the criminal charges surrounding Trump are gathering force and seem likely to end up in a full scale crisis. If […]
The U.S. “left” and arms to Ukraine
By John Reimann, administrator of Oaklandsocialist. This article originally appeared on the web site of the British group Ukraine Solidarity Campaign. Oaklandsocialist thanks them for publishing it. Ukraine may be on the […]
Against the “Red Baiting” Calumny
by Bill Weinberg Note: Here is another transcript from Bill Weinberg’s “Countervortex” podcast. These podcasts are part of Bill’s livelihood. Even if you prefer to only read material online, we urge you […]
Israeli anti-apartheid activist: Israeli IDF icon crumbling while middle ground dissolving
Oaklandsocialist interviewed Ofer Neiman again. (See first interview here.) Ofer is an Israeli socialist and Palestinian rights, anti apartheid activist. In this interview we discuss: The present situation in Israel The […]
Celebrating the news
Today, for your viewing pleasure, oaklandsocialist brings you the latest developments in the case of the Trump indictments;
Republican debate: a ghastly monster parade
I watched a little more than half the Republican monster parade, I mean debate, last night. (I couldn’t take much more than that.) Here are a couple of impressions: First was the […]
The Trump indictments: What they are, why they matter
Introduction The method of capitalist rule in the United States is shaking. It is not shaking because of a clash between the classes. It is shaking because of a crisis at the […]
Russia weaponizes hunger, withdraws from Black Sea grain agreement
By Charles Pierson World food prices soared after Russia imposed a naval blockade on Ukraine following its February 24, 2022 invasion. The blockade has prevented grain and other foodstuffs from leaving Ukrainian […]
Who is Roy Singham? What does his web consist of?
Introduction The role of multi-millionaire capitalist Neville “Roy” Singham in financing much of the “left” has been publicized by the recent article on him in the NY Times. However, that article is […]
Flashpoint Niger
By Bill Weinberg Transcript from CounterVortex podcast of Aug. 12. In this episode, we’re going to take a look at the situation in the West African nation of Niger, where a coup […]
Donald Trump: an unprecedented crisis
Introduction Donald Trump represents something entirely new in US politics. Because what he represents is so different from what we had over the past 150 years, many people, ironically including most socialists, […]
Reflections of a socialist elder
By Pete Glosser Justifiable fear about the next election cycle has begun circling like the medieval Beasts of Battle as we confront the very real probability that 1) the republican party will […]
U.S. political perspectives: An incredible situation
Had anybody predicted just ten years ago (2013) that: Donald Trump would be elected president and then would remain largely out of the control of any sector of the US capitalist class; […]
Israel’s political crisis: Interview with Ofer Neiman in Jerusalem
Israel’s political crisis has many aspects, some of which are unique to Israel and some of which the world has in comon. Here, Oaklandsocialist interviews Ofer Neiman, long time Palestinian rights activist […]
Book review: “American Kleptocracy”
According to Casey Michel (American Kleptocracy) the US is “the largest provider of money laundering and financial secrecy services in the world…. The world of the ‘offshore [money laundering haven] has been […]
The morality of cluster munitions
by Anthony Boynton Why are cluster munitions immoral? Because a bunch of governments have signed a treaty banning their use? Because civilians, especially children have been killed and wounded by cluster munitions? […]
Biden sends cluster bombs to Ukraine: A socialist analysis
What are the facts regarding Biden’s decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine and what is the reason for many countries having signed a treaty saying they won’t use cluster bombs? A […]
USA Number One…. in money laundering
Today’s Wall St. Journal carries an article that once more raises the issue of money laundering, but unintentionally. An LLC called Flannery Associates has purchased $1 billion worth of land around a […]
Military defeats push Putin to move closer to nuclear terrorism – sign petition
The Putin regime is preparing to engage in nuclear terrorism. In my view, here is the military background: Over the winter and early spring, the Putin regime put its seizure of Bakhmut […]
Opposing the Putin apologists: a personal journey
I came of age during the US war against Vietnam. I marched in protests against that war and helped organize some anti-war events. At the same time, I was highly influenced by […]
Putin mines Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Evidence he plans to set them off.
On June 21, Ukraine’s head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, warned that Russia had mined the cooling pools of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Equally ominously, on June 30 the Guardian […]
Macron and Putin fight the same battle… against environmentalists!
By Yorgos Mitralias The coincidence is terribly eloquent: On the same day, Wednesday June 21, 2023, almost at the same time, Macron and Putin declared war on all those who take the […]
U.S. Supreme Court did not outlaw affirmative action!
Contrary to what is being reported, the Republican controlled US Supreme Court has not prohibited affirmative action. It has only prohibited affirmative action that does not benefit white people. For example, the […]
A US/NATO plot to break up Russia? Wall St. Journal disproves the claim.
WSWS (and probably others on the Putinized “left”) argues that Prigozhin’s revolt was part of a US plot to break up Russia. Completely aside from the fact that there is not a […]
Thoughts, questions and suspicions about Prigozhin’s revolt
Even more than thoughts, there are questions and suspicions about Prigozhin’s rebellion. Putin has maintained his stranglehold on power in Russia through keeping potential rivals off balance and fighting each other. At […]
Workers should pay attention to Biden’s diplomatic maneuvers
Workers in the U.S, Ukraine and around the world should consider the significance of Biden’s latest diplomatic maneuvers. This week, he welcomed Indian president Narendra Modi to the White House with this […]
The true political significance of the Titan’s implosion
After days of breathless and nonstop reporting, the news is that Oceangate’s “Titan” apparently imploded as it descended. There is a political significance to this beyond the fact that millions have been […]
2024 elections: Chaos ahead?
The vacuum in US politics is reflected inside both of the two main parties. In the Democrats it is reflected in the extreme weakness of Biden. A February poll showed that only […]
“Before the war I was a boy, now I am a man”: Interview with Ukrainian soldier
With the Ukrainian counteroffensive now starting, we should get a human face behind who the Ukrainian soldiers are. Oleg is one of those faces. He was interviewed by a Ukrainian-speaking American friend […]
Berlusconi is dead but the nightmare of his legacy remains!
by Yorgos Mitralias (Introduction by Oaklandsocialist: Readers of this article will note Berlusconi’s similarities with Donald Trump. In fact, just one day after his death, the NY Times published an obituary for Berlusconi […]
Trump indictment: Why have WSJ editors returned to the Trump fold?
Why is the Wall St. Journal editorial board defendingTrump? After all, the indictment makes clear that Trump is a “clear and present danger” to the security of U.S. capital, to which the […]
Ukraine attacked by Russian missiles and Ukrainian real estate developers: Interview with Denys Pilash
This is the third and last segment of our interview with Denys Pilash. In a way, it’s the most important, because we get to an idea for a joint campaign. That is […]
“We need a working class movement to change the world”- Denys Pilash interview Part II
Video of second part of three part interview with Denys Pilash. Transcript is below video. Part One of the interview is here. Part three will follow. John Reimann Here’s the second […]
Trump indictment: “Expect the Unexpected”
If it wasn’t enough that a crooked, reality TV star could emerge from the pack and take down the anointed Republican presidential nominee (Jeb Bush) in 2016… If it wasn’t enough that […]
Video interview with Denys Pilash of Ukraine’s Social Movement
Video of interview with Denys Pilash of Ukraine’s Social Movement. Transcript of interview is below. John Reimann Oakland socialists had the opportunity to talk with Denys Pilash of Ukraine’s Sotsialny Rukh or […]
Statement of Independent unions of Ukraine on destruction of Nova Kavkhovka dam
Ukrainian trade unions statement on Kakhovka HPP explosion and an environmental disaster in Ukraine (See original link here) The Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine with other the Ukrainian affiliates of […]
Medea Benjamin joins forces with Naftali Bennett, Narendra Modi, Yoweri Museveni et al
Medea Benjamin and Nicholas Davies are at it again. They have jointly published an article in Commondreams calling for “negotiations” over Ukraine, by which they mean over the heads of the […]
“Fight a war armed with sticks and stones?” Another reply to Putin apologists
I recently was sent a copy of an email about the war in Ukraine. It was from some South African trade unionists. In it they repeat all the same old falsehoods […]
Union passes Ukraine support resolution
The California Faculty Association at Sonoma State university has passed this resolution in support of Ukraine’s right to arm and defend itself. The resolution was developed by the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign. […]
CNN platforms serial liar – socialists must not do the same.
There is a lesson we can learn from CNN’s “town hall” meeting with Trump On May 10th. The lesson involves how we deal with proven serial liars, of which Trump and the […]
Election update: Democratic nominees
The most recent polls must be very worrying to the Democrats. They show that 58% of “Democratic leaning” voters (an absolutely key demographic) want somebody other than Biden as the Democratic […]
France: What happens when Macron has already been defeated but the great popular movement has not yet won?
Introduction by Oaklandsocialist: I recently talked with a worker in Arkansas. We were talking about all sorts of things – retirement, pension plans, unions… He had heard nothing about these enormous […]
video: Memorial for Jordan Neely
Is Russia fascist?
Ilya Budraitskis is a Russian socialist and a refugee from that country. He talked with the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign recently on the issue of whether Russia is fascist. He raised many […]
Oakland A’s give up on Howard Terminal ripoff
The Oakland A’s have officially given up on getting ahold of acres of public land of the Port of Oakland and are moving to Las Vegas. I am proud that I was […]
May Day 2023 and beyond: an assessment
Today, on International Workers Day, and in the days that follow, we should assess the state of affairs within our class. We do ourselves and our class no favors by dressing this […]
Biden announces reelection campaign: What do Republicans have up their sleeve?
Biden may be on his way towards winning a clear majority in 2024, but the fascist-connected Republicans are not resigned to their “fate”. What legal covers could they use to overturn an […]
Oh, Happy Day
Russian refugees speak at meeting at Berkeley: Was/Is Trump in Putin’s pocket?
I attended this interesting meeting/presentation by Russian refugees Ilya Budraitskis and Ilya Matveev. Important issues were raised, but on one issue there is a serious question. But first a summary: The […]
The “Traditionalist” world view behind right wing populism: Interview with Ben Teitelbaum
Introduction Throughout the world, from Russia, to India, to Brazil to the United States, the idea of returning to ancient traditions forms a basic part of the global extreme right and fascist […]
Jill Stein debate: Does it matter?
Socialists and other leftists in the US have always played an important role in helping build the unions and build other working class organizations. Today, socialists are more or less […]
Trump arraigned: Is MAGA fading?
On the same day that Trump was formally arrested in New York City, a liberal Democrat won the election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and another beat his conservative, croporate oriented rival […]
“Unprecedented” U.S. aid to Ukraine – myth or reality?
By Michael Pröbsting Originally published on Links.org Politicians of Western governments never tire of asserting that aid from the US and EU for Ukraine is “unprecedented”. Supporters of Russian president Vladimir […]
International working class solidarity in action: Discussion with a Ukraine railroad worker
On April 2, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign had a zoom discussion with Olexandr Skyba, a leading member of the railroad workers union in Ukraine, and a fellow railroad worker of his. […]
A Trump tale with a twist
Trump seemed positively enthusiastic about his being indicted by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. At home and alone with Melania (who in general avoided like the plague having to spend alone time with […]
France: May, 1968 – March, 2023!
France: May 1968 – March 2023! by Yorgos Mitralias At a time when those who declare, even among the French elites (!), that we are witnessing the emergence of a “new May 68” […]
“Jesus, Freedom & Trump”
The walls are closing in on the former president of the United States and millions of Americans are up in arms about it. For many of them, “up in arms” is […]
Against the “progressive” betrayal of Ukraine
Against ‘progressive’ betrayal of Ukraine by Bill Weinberg. Transcript from CounterVortex podcast of March 13. We just passed the one-year anniversary of the start of the Ukraine war, Putin’s massive invasion of Ukraine. Which was […]
France: The historic counterattack of the workers’ movement puts the political system itself in deep crisis!
By Yorgos Mitralias What is happening in France this March 2023? What is happening is that France is now well into a – very promising – social and political crisis that is […]
Aleksandr Dugin: Alchemist of “Traditionalism”, mysticism and fascism
Dugin’s philosophic roots: mysticism, “Traditionalism” and fascism vs. reality of social class. Dugin’s international fascist links. Dugin’s Foundations of Geopolitics – towards Eurasianism and Russian imperialism. Dugin’s Fourth Political Theory – No […]
Kavita Krishnan on “Why we should pay attention to Narendra Modi”
On March 12, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign had a presentation from Kavita Krishnanon “Why the world should pay attention to Narendra Modi”. This was followed by a full discussion. Below […]
Biden half steps helping reaction at home and abroad
From East Palestine to east Ukraine, Biden’s half steps are killing people while they boost the chances of the fascist connected Republicans in 2024 and help the fascist connected Putin’s invasion of […]
France : days of exacerbation of a historic class conflict !
by Yorgos Mitralias In France, the popular mobilisation of 7 March did not disappoint expectations and was indeed of historic proportions. That is why, moreover, it immediately provoked a new and even greater […]
Beware Ron DeSantis – Florida’s Viktor Orbán
Workers and political activists beware: What is happening in Florida threatens all political campaigns we are involved in. Florida governor Ron DeSantis is moving to be the US’s Viktor Orbán. Orbán, […]
Upcoming Zoom discussion: Kavita Krishnan on why we should pay attention to Narendra Modi
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign presents: Kavita Krishnan on “Why the world should pay attention to Narendra Modi” In May of 2019, after India’s Narendra Modi was overwhelmingly reelected, the Financial times commented: […]
East Palestine, Ohio, and Ukraine are closer than you think!
East Palestine, Ohio, and Kyiv, Ukraine, may be nearly 5,000 miles apart, but they are closer than you think. And in both cases, the U.S. union leadership is missing in action. […]
The trial of Alex Murdaugh: A real life soap opera drama
The real life soap opera murder trial of Alex Murdaugh has been dominating the news over the last week or so. Largely because the trial has been televised, it’s been great drama. […]
East Palestine neighbor talks about the politics in that area
A local resident and American Indian talks about the politics in the area of East Palestine John Reimann So we’re talking with somebody that lives in the next county over from, from […]
Interview with Oaklandsocialist
The author of this blog, John Reimann, was recently interviewed by Luke Pickrell. Here is that interview as he published it. Interview with socialist activist and writer John Reimann By Luke Pickrell 2/11/2023 The […]
Video: S.F. Bay Area rally marks Ukraine invasion anniversary with landmark united rally
United rally marking the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A real step forward towards Freedom Fighters of the World United.
American railroads’ toxic pollution of the air, water, soil and of US politics
On February 3, a 1.8 mile long train run by Norfolk Southern derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. It was known at the time that the train was carrying the highly toxic vinyl […]
Report on “Rage Against the War Machine”: A Tempest in a Teapot?
Given the numbers involved, it might seem that all the brouhaha over the “Rage Against the War Machine” protests is just a tempest in a teapot. After all, their signal event […]
France: millions of demonstrators ready to escalate the strikes and paralyse the country!
by Giorgios Mitralias In France, what happened in the previous three days of popular mobilisation against the government’s pension (anti-)reform, happened again in the fourth, on Saturday 11 February: many hundreds of […]
“The Right of Nations to Self-Determination” – a Dialectical Approach
Any thinking worker – no less any real socialist – will say, “of course the people of Ukraine have the right to defend themselves, arms in hand, against the Russian invaders.” That is […]
Boycott “Rage Against the War Machine”
From the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign Boycott “Rage Against the War Machine” UKRAINE SOCIALIST SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN, CISPOS, AND SYRIA SOLIDARITY NYC CALL FOR BOYCOTTING “RAGE AGAINST THE WAR MACHINE” RALLY ON FEBRUARY […]
The Far Right in Ukraine: an interview with Taras Bilous
With their permission, we republish here an interview with Taras Bilous originally published in New Politics. This is invaluable information, first and foremost to keep us informed of the actual situation in […]
Earthquake! “I am so full of rage”
I was talking with a friend of mine who is from Turkey today. I commented on the fact that I was seeing a building that had collapsed into a pile of rubble […]
Interview with Howie Hawkins on the Green Party, his future plans and more
Oaklandsocialist interviews Green Party candidate of president in 2020 and long time activist, Howie Hawkins. Full transcript below video. John Reiman So we’re talking here with Howie Hawkins, who’s a prominent member […]
Where is the Sacred Union? A voice from France
From the French group Aplutsoc: The United States, which had gambled on Ukraine being crushed last February and the subsequent organization of Russia’s financial and commercial isolation, must provide arms to Ukraine, […]
France: Towards a social explosion of historic proportions
By Yorgos Mitralias The international media may say hardly a word, but that does not mean that these days France is not being shaken by the biggest social eruption of the last several decades! […]
Oakland stands with Tyre Nichols
I went to the Oakland protest about the murder of Tyre Nichols last night. It was a fairly good turnout and the speeches reflected that anger, and determination to put an end […]
Which side are you on? — Bill Fletcher & Medea Benjamin debate
Bill Fletcher, Jr. (Ukraine Solidarity Network) debated Medea Benjamin (Code Pink) last Sunday (Jan. 29) on the issue of Ukraine. The debate helped clarify some points, and raised some previously less […]
The Burmese coup 2 years later: An internationalist speaks
Khin Thiri Nandar Soe, a Burmese woman living in the San Francisco Bay Area explains that the Burmese junta is waging a war against the population of that country and that it learned […]
“Why Did Russia Invade Ukraine?” – comic book by Bill Weinberg & Seth Tobocman
Brilliant comic book style history of the invasion of Ukraine. Words by Bill Weinberg, artwork by Seth Tobocman and Tamara Tornado. Originally published here. Also see Bill Weinberg’s web site Countervortex. See […]
Brazil’s “January 6th”: Interview with Fabio Bosco
There are important similarities – and also differences – between January 6 2021 in the US and the recent coup attempt. Workers here in the US should draw the lessons. Here, we […]
Ukraine war: Sub-Imperialist positioning, not “anti-colonial consciousness,” behind the neutrality of reactionary elites in the Global South
Reprinted from Michael Karadjis’s blog site. He makes one point that should be obvious, that many on the “left” ignore: That a government’s support for (or opposition to) any particular issue – […]
Svitlana Romanko, Ukrainian environmental activist, talks with Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign
On January 8, Svitlana Romanko talked with the Ukrainian Socialist Solidarity Campaign. Svitlana is an environmentalist lawyer in Ukraine. Just a short while ago, she was kicked out of the Cop 27 […]
The Counter-Revolution of the Brown International in the Making
NO PASARAN! The frightening civilisational counter-revolution of the Brown International in the making by Yorgos Mitralias With interest focused – rightly so – on the war Putin is waging against Ukraine and its people, […]
Republicans step back from abyss…. for now
The Republicans stared into the abyss and stepped back…. for now. They watched Matt Gaetz apparently renege on a deal. They watched fellow Representative Mike Rogers (R, Alabama) have to be restrained […]
“Which side are you on?” in the 21st century
I wrote a new version of the old song “Which side are you on?”, as it applies to the struggles in Iran, Ukraine, Myanmar and the world socialist movement (“Oh, workers of […]
The House Speaker Crisis and the Transformation of the Republican Party
The last two times members of the House of Representatives had to resort to multiple ballots to elect a House Speaker tell us a lot about the present crisis. Both times the […]
Discussion with Ukrainian in Kiev
The Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign recently held a zoom discussion with Eugene, who lives in Kiev. Below is the recording plus a transcript. Eugene Bronstein So I hope that I will […]
Zoom presentation & discussion: Fossil Fuel Dependency and Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
Fossil Fuel Dependency and Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: A Forum/Discussion “Ending our dependence on oil and gas is the best way to stop fueling thugs like Putin and the growing climate crisis,” […]
“Putin’s Last Stand” and entropy
Foreign Affairs, the journal of the Council on Foreign Relations, is probably the most serious journal of the US capitalist class. It recently published an article entitled Putin’s Last Stand. This article […]
January 6th Committee Issues final report: Does Trump bear all the blame?
The House Special Committee to investigate January 6 has issued its final report, issued in time before it disappears like a building swallowed up in a sink hole, when the Republicans take […]
Medea Benjamin, the pro-Putin “left” and the far right in America
The world crisis revolving around the war in Ukraine has a deep influence in US politics. This makes understanding that war all the more important. In January, the fascist-linked Republican Party will […]
Review of Medea Benjamin’s book on Ukraine
by Bill Weinberg. Note, this is the transcript of an audio of Bill Weinberg’s “Countervortex”. That audio can be heard on his blog here. Against pseudo-left disinformation on Ukraine From the CounterVortex […]
Jeffrey Sachs on Democracy Now
Reposted from Claysbeach.blogspot.com Friday, December 9, 2022 Jeffrey Sachs on @DemocracyNow vs. Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin On Tuesday, Jeffrey Sachs was on Democracy Now to talk about the war in Ukraine. On Wednesday, […]
Video: San Francisco rally for Iran revolution
About a thousand Iranians, Iranian-Americans and a few supporters rallied in San Francisco on Dec. 11 to show support for the Iran revolution. Here’s a short video of that event:
Moore v. Harper: A Coup by the Court?
If there is to be a coup – meaning the overthrow of the norms of capitalist democracy – in the US, it will most likely be a “constitutional coup”. This means that […]
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign forum on Iran with Frieda Afary
On Dec. 4, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign held a forum on the revolution in Iran, with socialist feminist Frieda Afary presenting. Here is a video of the entire forum plus, below […]
Video: Oakland rally in support of Iran revolution
Oaklandsocialist Talks With Railroad Worker Matt Weaver
John Reimann On the afternoon after the US Senate, under the leadership of Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer passed the bill to force the railroad workers to keep on working, prohibiting […]
Railroad Workers and the Carpenters Wildcat Strike of 1973-4: Action is Power
Biden is pushing for the government to prohibit a railroad strike. The excuse is that such a strike would hurt the economy. This whole situation brings to mind the great SF Bay […]
Putin’s Doves
by Charles Pierson On November 19, the People’s Forum in New York City hosted a panel discussion: “The Real Path to Peace in Ukraine.” The speakers were a rogues’ gallery of tankie […]
Upcoming Forum/discussion on Uprising in Iran
The uprising in Iran is inspiring millions around the world. On Sunday, Dec. 4, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign will host Iranian American socialist feminist, writer and translator, Frieda Afary to […]
“Go along to get along” – a cautionary tale
I was (unofficially) expelled from a small socialist group I helped found over 15 years ago and was very active in for many years. How that happened is a cautionary tale. The […]
Yesterday as today, the policy of appeasement has only led to disaster!
by Yorgos Mitralias Introduction by Oaklandsocialist: On November 19, a variety of US “peace groups”, plus speakers like former British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and former Green Party candidate for president […]
Kavita Krishnan on “peace”
by Kavita Krishnan You may have come across mention of a “Peoples Forum” in New York, calling for “No to War-Yes to Negotiations” in Ukraine. I’ve signed a petition drafted by the […]
Biden military representatives hold press conference: Read between the lines.
Something I learned from my years of activity inside the union: Pay close attention to exactly what the union leadership is saying… and also what they’re not saying. That’s because they are […]
Analysis of the 2022 US election results
The partial setback for the MAGA Republicans follows a similar event in Brazil, where the Brazil style Donald Trump – Jair Bolsonaro – was narrowly defeated. But just as in Brazil, this […]
Message to those who voted for the Oaklandsocialist for mayor
Here’s what I posted on my Facebook page for my mayorial campaign: Election results and the potential: Friends, as of now I got 521 votes in the first round, meaning that so […]
What I learned campaigning as the working class socialist candidate for Oakland mayor
I ran for mayor of Oakland as the “working class socialist candidate” in this election cycle. Along the way, I learned a lot and, I believe, set some examples for future similar […]
Fascists are not “interesting” or funny
Peter Liu is a candidate for Oakland mayor. He sends around emails about “crooked Jews” and “dirty Jews” and says an admirer of Hitler (rapper “Ye”) is a role model for him. […]
Assault aimed at Nancy Pelosi a combination of social isolation, MAGAism, and misogyny/ageism
The assault on Paul Pelosi, husband of Congressional House leader Nancy Pelosi, says a lot about the direction of US politics. The alleged attacker is a man named David DePape. (From all […]
From Trump to Bolsonaro and back again: The drive to overturn election results
As of this writing, Trump surrogate in Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has not accepted his election defeat by Lula da Silva. Immediately following his loss, he was reported as meeting for hours with […]
The Fallacies of the call for “Negotiations”: A reply to Binoy Kampmark’s article in Counterpunch
By Charles Pierson Note: The following article was submitted to Counterpunch as a reply to the article mentioned in the paragraph below. Counterpunch has refused to publish it. “Victory against Russia,” is […]
Iran Israel: Same Shit, Different Place, Phony War
By Michael Karadjis reposted from his blog. (Michael Karadjis makes a vital point: That not all capitalist rivalries can be boiled down to simple economic rivalries. That is because every capitalist regime […]
Forced labor in Dominican Republic: A state crime
By Socialist Workers’ Movement of the Dominican Republic In a press release dated July 19, 2022, the head of the Ways and Means Committee of the US Congress, Earl Blumenauer, and Dan […]
Video: Oakland mayoral candidates – including the Oaklandsocialist – debate the issue of homelessness
At last I was able to break through the nice, friendly, collegial atmosphere that the liberals try to impose on these events. It was a combination of several factors, first and foremost […]
What this candidate for Mayor told the S.F. Chronicle
A reporter from the S.F. Chronicle interviewed me this morning. It was part of their decision-making process to decide whom they will endorse. (Newsflash: Don’t be shocked if they don’t endorse this, […]
Kavita Krishnan talks with Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign
On Oct. 23, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign met with Indian Marxist, Kavita Krishnan. (See the announcement of this meeting for a short biography of Kavita.) This was a small but hugely important […]
MAGAism exposed: One of the main reasons why I’m Running for Oakland Mayor
Today’s Washington Post reports that Trump had stolen classified documents containing state secrets about Iran and China. This is a major reason why I’m running for Mayor. Every other candidate wants you […]
The Consciousness in Britain and the US: An online conversation with Aditya Sarkar
Oaklandsocialist had an online conversation with Aditya Sarkar about the situation in Britain. Aditya is a labor historian from India, working in Britain. We met through the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign, but […]
Important Indian Socialist to Speak at Zoom Meeting
This will be a very important meeting. I urge all workers to attend and to publicize widely: The Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign is extremely proud to announce that well known Indian socialist […]
Urge ILWU to stand firm for Ukraine
NOTE: If you like this letter and want to add your name as a current or former union member, contact this blog site at: oaklandsocialist@gmail.com and or send a note to: StandFirmForUkraine@gmail.com […]
Putin in trouble
Ukraine’s bombing of the Kerch Bridge and Putin’s reaction should be seen in light of a recent articlein the Washington Post. That article cites growing divisions within the Putin government, including from […]
John “Oaklandsocialist” Reimann interviewed on why he is running for mayor
I was interviewed the other day on why I am running for Oakland mayor. Unlike the candidate forums – which are largely like beauty pageants – in this one I was given […]
Video: Socialist candidate on League of Women Voters Forum
Yesterday the “nonpartisan” League of Women Voters held a “forum” for candidates for Oakland mayor. This whole campaign has been a tremendous learning experience for me and I’m starting to get a […]
Putin accuses the West of ‘Satanism’ to justify Russia’s colonial theft of 15 percent of Ukraine
by Michael Karadjis republished from his blog MKaradjis.com. Interesting that in a 37-minute speech to justify Russia’s brazen annexation of four regions of Ukraine, Putin didn’t mention “Nazis” or “de-Nazification” once, these silly tropes […]
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign Discusses with Russian Dissident Ilya Budraitskis
On Oct. 2, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign held a Zoom meeting with exiled Russian dissident Ilya Budraitskis. What follows is a video of the full meeting plus a transcript of Ilya’s […]
Can Putin Survive? What Might Follow if he is Ousted?
With the crisis of the Putin regime, a new and even more unstable period in world history may be opening up. The “Cold War” was marked by tensions and constant struggles. Then […]
My interview with the SF Chronicle
Here is a video plus the text of an interview I did with the SF Chronicle yesterday: SF Chronicle Well, John, can you tell me a little bit about yourself? John Reimann […]
Italian post-fascists in power
The old demons of the interwar period are back in Europe! By Yorgos Mitralias “Days of 1922? Not yet, but Italy is on track to “celebrate” in four years the centenary of […]
More on why I’m running for mayor as Oaklandsocialist
It is important to learn how to answer capitalist politicians, and running for office is one way of doing so. I’m learning a lot by running for mayor of Oakland, mainly through […]
Walter Mosely’s “RL’s Dream”
“And RL cracked a smile that woulda made a sweet girl’s photograph cry.” There are such beautifully descriptive sentences scattered throughout Walter Mosley’s 1995 novel “RL’s Dream”. The novel is formally about […]
Trump and Putin: What they have in common; where they differ
When viewed more closely, the crises in which Trump and Putin find themselves go a long way towards defining what they have in common and where they differ. The fact that Putin […]
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign to hold meetings on events inside Ukraine & Russia
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign will be holding two meetings/discussions on events inside Ukraine and inside Russia. We urge people to attend and participate. Sunday, September 25: What is happening inside Ukraine? The […]
Why Socialists Should Understand the Trump Crisis
We must start to draw a link between the confusions – in fact the abandonment of principle – of many socialists regarding Ukraine and their equally great confusions about the crisis swirling […]
Oaklandsocialist John Reimann crashes the party!
Mar-a-Lago Search: a MAGA Judge Takes Over
The latest in the Mar-a-Lago search drama is the ruling by the MAGAist federal judge Aileen Cannon that the Department of Justice (DOJ) must stop its investigation until a “special master” can […]
Video: Interview With Micah Reddy of South Africa’s Amabhungane
Oaklandsocialist interviewed Micah Reddy of South Africa. Much of our discussion focused on the role of a murky figure named Roy Singham. Singham is a multi-millionaire who financed a left journal in […]
Towards the Brown International of the European and global far right?
By Yorgos Mitralias Not since the end of the last world war has the threat of a reinvigorated, aggressive and almost universally rising far right been felt as much as today. Why is […]
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign Holds Meeting on Sao Paolo Forum
On August 28, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign held a very informative discussion on Latin America’s Sao Paolo Forum. The speaker was Simón Rodríguez from Venezuela. Here is a video of that meeting […]
The Mar-a-Lago Search: “The Greatest Crisis Since the Civil War” or a mere “Dispute Over Documents”?
The usually staid editorial board of the NY Times calls this newest Donald Trump scandal “the greatest crisis in American Democracy since the Civil War…. Mr. Trump’s actions as a public official, like […]
Democratic Socialists of America and the Political Crisis of Socialism
The fact that tens of millions of US workers still support Trump shows the massive confusion that exists. Part of the reason for that confusion is the absence of any significant working […]
No Tears for Dugina
No tears for Dugina Republished from AWL on 23 August, 2022 – 2:50 Author: Dale Street Darya Dugina on a day-trip to the Azovstal plant in “liberated” Mariupol Darya Dugina was killed in […]
The Assassination of Darya Dugina: Should Socialists Support Such Methods?
Darya Dugina, fascist daughter of fascist father Aleksandr Dugin, was killed by a car bomb the other day. The probable target was Dugin himself but his fascist daughter will not be missed […]
“Revolutionaries at War”: Ukrainian lefts speak about the war there
Here is an excellent documentary in which Ukrainian lefts of all sorts speak. They explain how they see the Russian invasion, the issue of corruption, the issue of the far right, and […]
Video: Kaiser Mental Health Workers on Strike and capitalism with “ethics”
Mental Health workers are on strike at Kaiser Permanente. On Aug. 19 they held a strike rally in Oakland. I was there as the working class socialist candidate for Oakland Mayor and […]
Colombia Lurches Left
by Anthony Boynton in Bogotá, Colombia Imagine that you wake up tomorrow and Bernie Sanders has been elected President of the United States, AND his supporters have won a majority in the […]
The Mar-a-Lago Search and “Political Furies”
“The Justice Department is unleashing political furies it can’t control.” So wrote the editors of the Wall St. Journal on the day after the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. They are wrong. Those […]
WSJ Editors on Mar-a-Lago FBI Search
Those militant uncompromising fighters for their class – the capitalist class – are not happy. Yes, I’m talking about the editorial board of the Wall St. Journal. They have several complaints, criticisms […]
The Call for “Diplomacy” to End the War in Ukraine: A Reply to L. Michael Hager
The supposedly left journal Counterpunch has published an article called Diplomacy not Weapons Will End the War”by L. Michael Hager. Hager, starts off by in effect appealing to the concerns of Western […]
Alex Jones and the slanderers of the Syrian and Ukrainian People
Millions are celebrating that Alex Jones will have to pay millions of dollars to those he caused mental anguish and slandered. The question is: How is Jones any different from those on […]
Guido Picelli: The man who routed the fascists!
Introduction from Oaklandsocialist: For the next three days, there will be celebrations in Italy for the centenary of the “Barricades of Parma”. These were barricades erected by the workers movement against attacks […]
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign holds meeting on “Fascist Ideas on the left”
On July 31, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign held an important meeting on the issue of “Fascist Ideas on the Left: Past, Present and What to do About It”. This was the […]
Trump learned his lesson; building a team for second term
Donald Trump is preparing to clean house if he gets a second term in office. A major obstacle standing in the way of Trump establishing a Victor Orban-like dictatorship in his first […]
January 6th hearings Day 8: “Something Old and Something New”
“Something old and something new” could be the summary of the eighth day of public hearings from the January 6 committee. The committee seems to be doing a couple of things: First […]
Police inaction in Uvalde vs. Police In Action
The media is playing off the complete failure of the police in Uvalde as being due to the failure of whoever was in charge. Yes, whoever was in charge failed and […]
Day 7 of Hearings of House January 6th Committee: The Exact Course of the Plot Becomes Clarified
Day 7 of the hearings of the House January 6 committee helped clarify what role Trump and his “team crazy” played in the build up to that day. The question is what […]
Discussion with Simon Pirani about Donbass, Crimea, Maidan and Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine
Introduction: On July 10, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign hosted a meeting at which Simon Pirani spoke on the issue of the situation in Donbass and Crimea and Russia’s intervention there in […]
Interview with an Artist-Activist with Long Covid
Note: This interview will also be able to be heard on Oaklandsocialist’s podcast. John Reimann So we’re talking with Meghan Keane, who is an artist and a political activist, including […]
What makes Putinists and Putinisants perpetuate the most abject traditions of the international left?
by Yorgos Mitralias A first conclusion of the reading of Trotsky’s texts “Learn to think” and “On the Sino-Japanese war” is that they explain in a very convincing and detailed way, the […]
Letter from South Africa: The Capture of National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa by a US Capitalist
Introduction: Oaklandsocialist received the following letter, which is being circulated by concerned members, shop stewards and staff of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). At the time of the […]
Video: My speech at press conference on Howard Terminal A’s stadium project
A coalition of different liberal groups held a press conference to demand a ballot referendum on the real estate development/A’s stadium project. Here is my speech on the project:
January 6 Hearing Day 6: Imagining the Unimaginable
Trump’s loyalists may be flipping. On the sixth, and previously unscheduled day of the January 6 hearings, Cassidy Hutchinson, former top aide to Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, testified. Apparently she […]
Report from Labor Notes Conference
By Art Francisco, co-Chair P.J. McGuire Caucus (Carpenters Union) Last weekend I had the privilege of being able to attend the Labor Notes conference, a national union conference that had 4000 attendees […]
Video: Oakland Protests Supreme Court Anti-Abortion Ruling
The large turnout on only a few hours notice shows the huge potential for a new movement of youth and workers. In future articles, Oaklandsocialist will examine what immediate demands can be […]
January 6 Hearings Day 5: Why it is a mistake to ignore these hearings
As this is being posted, it was just announced that the US Supreme Court has officially overturned Roe v Wade. The dictatorial role of these political hacks simply confirms everything in this […]
Day 4 of January 6 Hearings: “Lots of theories but no evidence”
“We have lots of theories. We just don’t have any evidence.” So spoke Rudy Giuliani according to Mike Shirky, Republican State Senate in Michigan. If for no other reason, the fourth day […]
Day 3 of January 6 Hearings: A violent coup or a future legal coup coming?
On the day after the third day of hearings of the January 6 House committee, the Wall St. Journal ran an editorial in which they essentially said that all decisions as far as […]
What is this strange war in Ukraine where it is forbidden to either “defeat or humiliate” Putin?
by Yorgos Mitralias The strangeness of this war of Mr. Putin in Ukraine is probably without historical precedent. Why? For a whole series of reasons, the first of which is that, for […]
What Was Revealed by Day 2 of the Hearings of the House January 6 Investigation Committee
The Republicans’ “team normal” reveal Trump’s crimes. U.S. capitalist rule based on “rule of law” and recognition of science, within limits. The “team normal and Democratic alliance to remove “the cause of […]
January 6 revisited: First day of Congressional January 6 Committee hearings
“I can just remember my breath catching in my throat because what I saw was just a war scene. It was something like I had seen out of the movies. “I couldn’t […]
Report from Kyiv
Oaklandsocialist talked with Eugene in Kyiv. He talked about the situation there and the mood in general. A lot refers back to what actually happened in the Maidan revolt of 2014, which […]
Debate about Ukraine
I went to a meeting of the East Bay DSA “Night School” last night. This was a presentation supposedly on Ukraine. As I expected, the meeting was a not-so-subtle cover for Putin […]
Video: Parents & Community occupying Parker Elementary School hold press conference
Parker Elementary School in East Oakland has been under occupation for several weeks now. Here the parents and community members doing the occupation hold a press conference to explain why. Also see […]
USSC Meeting: Syria, Ukraine, Geopolitics and the working class
On June 5, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign hosted a very successful meeting (with 40 attending) on Syria, Ukraine, Geopolitics and the working class. Michael Karadjis made an initial presentation, whose text […]
Ukraine: Is a “Negotiated Settlement” a Euphemism for Defeat of Ukraine?
“‘Russian artillery is shooting from morning until evening,’ said Volodymyr Pohorilyy, 43, intelligence commander of the Dnipro-1 battalion, which holds several key positions in the region. ‘If our side shoots one their […]
Elections in Colombia
From Anthony Boynton in Bogotá Colombia just had the first round of this year’s presidential elections, and some of the results were surprising. The fact that Gustavo Petro, the candidate of the […]
Biden’s Reluctant Half-Steps
The reluctant half measures of Biden both domestically and in regards to Ukraine What the call for “negotiations” in Ukraine really means The similarity of the position of much of the US […]
Uvalde & Murders by Police
The cowardice of the different police in the Uvalde disaster clarifies what really happens in many if not the great majority of police shootings of civilians. Take the example of the police […]
Michael Karadjis to speak
Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign will be sponsoring a meeting featuring Michael Karadjis. Michael is a lecturer at the University of Western Sidney in Australia. His blog site, Mkaradjis.com, contains some of the most […]
Video: S.F. school students walk out to defend abortion rights
The NRA, Gun Control, Violence and Alienation in America Today
With 31 people murdered at two mass shootings in less that one week’s time, US society seems spiraling into pathologically violent insanity. How did we get this way and what is the […]
The Crisis in the Left and in the Working Class: A Zoom Discussion
On May 22, the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign (USSC) held a zoom meeting on the crisis in the left and in the working class. Fifteen people in all participated. Cheryl Zuur, long […]
Report from Russia: Putin Considers Tactical Nuclear Strike at Facilities in Ukraine and Poland
The following article from a Russian Telegram Channel called “Volya”, which is roughly translated as “Free Will” says that there are serious discussions in Putin’s inner circle about the use of “tactical” […]
War in Ukraine and Some Points About World Perspectives
Oaklandsocialist publishes this article by Pete Glosser. Its perspective is not very optimistic as far as the war in Ukraine. However, while we support the defeat of the Russian invasion, we have […]
Why does Putin make all the Soviet dead of the Second World War… “Russians”?
By Yorgos Mitralias May 9 has come and gone, and as has been the constant for the past two decades, both Mr. Putin’s enemies and friends have repeated in unison that on […]
Russian and Ukrainian Oligarchs: Finding and Seizing Their REAL Assets
Russian oligarchs’s $300 million yacht seized by Fiji on behalf of U.S.” blared the headline in the Washington Post. “Germany seizes world’s largest yacht because of its ties to Russian oligarch” blared […]
Racist Murders in Buffalo: A Warning to be Taken Seriously
“This was pure evil,” said Erie County Sheriff, John Garcia about the racist murders at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo, NY. His widely quoted statement is a cover up for the real […]
Photos of abortion rights protest in Oakland
Here are photos of the abortion rights protest in Oakland. It was very poorly publicized. (I didn’t even know about it until I happened to pass by on my way to the […]
Interview with Ukrainian Union Organizer Artem Tidva
Ukrainian union organizer Artem Tidva talks about The unions from the old Soviet Union days Employers’ tactics to weaken unions since independence Relations between Ukrainian and Russian unions before the invasion and […]
Message to Amazon Workers: Unionize!
From John Reimann for Oakland mayor. Feel free to reprint and distribute wherever you are, but especially in the East Bay and give to Amazon drivers. Or write up your own leaflet. […]
The Putinist Left, its monstrosities and the Ukrainian national question
by Yorgos Mitralias For a long time now, almost everyone has been tormented by the same question: why are people turning their backs on the Left? Why does the Left seem so […]
Will Putin voluntarily withdraw? A reply to Ron Jacobs
The well known left intellectual Ron Jacobs has written an article in the equally well known left magazine Counterpunch, on the war in Ukraine. The article is called called “We need an […]
Abortion Ruling: Supreme Court in Hands of Religious Fanatics
A Campaign Statement of John Reimann for Oakland Mayor It’s now out in the open: The fanatical Christian bigots have seized control not only over the Republican Party but also over the […]
Stop Privatization – a campaign statement from John Reimann for Oakland mayor
Campaign statement by John Reimann for Oakland mayor. For more information, see: Why I will be running for Oakland Mayor “In February of this year I posted this article What an Oaklandsocialist […]
The “Grand Chessboard”: It’s not as simple as you think!
By Michael Karadjis Introduction by Oaklandsocialist: The following article is by Australian Marxist Michael Karadjis. He uses a couple of terms that may be unfamiliar to some. “Tankies” refers to those on […]
The French Elections: Interview with Olivier Delbeke
John Reimann And we’re talking with Olivier Delbeke in France about the elections there. Olivier is with Aplutsoc, which is the abbreviations of Argument (or Struggle) for the Social Struggle. Olivier For […]
Nationalism, fascism and the rise of capitalism in Ukraine: Some Tentative Conclusions
The connection between Russian oppression and Stalinism The connection between Ukrainian nationalism and anti-communism The present basis of support for Ukrainian fascist groups How that could all change Since I was recently […]
CWA Local 7250 Resolution on Ukraine
Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 7250 executive committee has passed an excellent resolution on the war in Ukraine. We urge other union activists to raise this or similar resolutions. It starts: […]
My visit to Lviv, Ukraine, in pictures
Here are some photos of my visit to Lviv, Ukraine. I stress “Lviv” because I think it is not like other parts of Ukraine in that while the war has touched Lviv […]
Once More: Should socialists support or oppose NATO arms to Ukraine?
Today the majority of socialists in the West argue that it is our duty to oppose “our” government’s sending arms to Ukraine. They equate the situation today with that at the start […]
Discussion with a Ukrainian construction worker
I had a discussion with an unemployed construction worker today. He was in the army but was expelled after a month after they discovered that he’d been arrested some time ago for […]
My first day in Ukraine
Most of the time walking around Lviv you would just think this is a nice old city with interesting architecture. Some are apartent buildings built in the days of the old […]
Putin propaganda machine justifies war crimes
Message to “left” denialists
To all those who denied the fact of Putin/Assad atrocities in Syria or ignored it; to all those who amplified the claim that the gas attacks there were a false flag; to […]
Bucha & Mariupol: Russian atrocities reveal Putin’s real goal
Russian war atrocities not limited to Bucha Atrocities reveal Putin’s real goal Putin’s trajectory towards complete domination at home and regionally Reasons for Biden’s completely inadequate response For a real workers program […]
Amazon Labor Union Wins!
The smashing victory of the Amazon Labour Union in Staten Island, NY, is the real sign of the times. Chris Smalls and Derrick Palmer and a small crowd of fellow workers overcame […]
When Donald Trump Became Speaker of the House
Few paid attention when Matt Gaetz promised to nominate Trump for Speaker of the House if the Republicans won control in November. (See video above.) Those who did scoffed. They shouldn’t have, […]
Ukraine supporters in Hayward, CA
We had a little literature table and talked with visitors to the Hayward Farmers Market this morning. Here are a few photos.
Ukraine: Russian military setbacks indicate possible new perspectives
Implications of Russian military setbacks More limited political goals? US/NATO goals Possible use of chemical or “tactical” nuclear weapons and US response Can Russia become a “failed state”? Role of the Ukrainian […]
Ukraine and NATO
Australian Marxist Michael Karadjis commented on the issue of NATO’s expansion. He wrote: Quite frankly, while a former colony is being smashed to bits by hundreds of rockets and missiles artillery and […]
“You need to defend workers and your country”: Interview with Ukrainian socialist Vladyslav Starodubtsev
“You need to fight for workers rights, and you need to fight for your country.” We talked with Ukrainian socialist Vladyslav Starodubtsev. We discussed: The fight for workers rights in a neoliberal […]
The Invasion of Ukraine: A Socialist Analysis
The Maidan revolt The role of western imperialism including NATO Putin: Make Russia Great Again Support Ukraine’s right to get arms from any source possible Zelensky & Ukrainian capitalism The seizure […]
“Socialism is not the past, it is the future”: Vitaly Dudin in Ukraine
Oaklandsocialist interviewed Vitaly Dudin, labor activist in Ukraine. We discussed: The need to fight against Russia’s invasion Labor rights in Ukraine and neoliberalism The Ukrainian oligarchs’s role The seizure of both the […]
From Vitaly Dudin in Ukraine: “Socialism is not the past; it is the future”
audio of interview with labor activist Vitaly Dudin in Ukraine. Full interview including text coming soon. Here this post on our podcast.
Seize, Sell ALL Assets of Russian Oligarchs. Send to Ukraine NOW
The Biden administration has announced the seizure of assets of Russian oligarchs. “These individuals and their family members will be cut off from the U.S. financial system, their assets in the United […]
Human Rights from Burma/Myanmar to Ukraine!
Saturday was Burma Human Rights day. The Burmese American community held an event commemorating and linking it with the issue of human rights in Ukraine. Cheryl Zuur, retired union leader and long […]
“People are showing solidarity”: A Ukrainian youth speaks
Here is a video of an interview with Yaroslav Kovalchuk, who lives in Ukraine. Below is a transcript of the interview. Yaroslav explained the issue of nationalism – its limited impact and […]
Ukraine and the future of “anti-imperialism”
by Junius Introduction by Oaklandsocialist: Although it is tiny and with hardly any influence, it is a mistake to ignore those on the left who call themselves “anti-imperialists”. It’s an even bigger […]
Putin’s Increasingly Desperate Situation and Possible Outcomes
Putin’s situation becoming desperate. Is a coup possible? Is a fascist-type dictatorship possible? Is there a social base and an armed force for such a dictatorship? What is the working class alternative? […]
Video: Protest Against School Closings in Oakland
Peace Treaties and “Big Businessmen Without High Hats”
How should we see the efforts of France’s Emmanuel Macron, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Israel’s Naftali Bennet to negotiate a truce in Ukraine with Putin? Or any peace treaty among capitalists, […]
School Closings = Gentrification
Oakland is planning on closing ten schools. Here’s a statement on this issue from John Reimann for Oakland Mayor. For more on our campaign, see: This interview with Zennie Abraham And […]
Ukraine-Russia Negotiations: What is the Purpose?
When I first heard about Zelensky agreeing to negotiate with Putin’s representatives I wondered, to say the least. What is there to negotiate over? Maybe this is just paranoia, but […]
Interview with Ukrainian Leftist, Ivan Shmatko
Self described Ukrainian leftist discusses the situation within his country. He explains the powerful opposition to the Russian invasion, disputes the claim that there is a strong division between Russian and Ukrainian […]
Preliminary Assessment of Ukraine Invasion and its Political Fallout
Apparent Splits in Russian Military Tops: Possible Coup? NATO Spread the Cause of Invasion? Anti-War Protests Spread in Russia Military Assessment, Thermobaric bomb & Putin a “Cornered rat” Political Fallout in US […]
Putin’s Blitzkrieg: A Perspective from the United States
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is now in full swing. Explosions have been heard near and around cities throughout the country. These appear to have been missile attacks on airports and possibly […]
Andrey Kurkov: First Hand Report From Kyiv
We spoke briefly with Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov, who is located in Kyiv. Here is his report on the situation there at this moment:
Putin Orders Invasion of Ukraine
A new stage has been reached in the Ukraine crisis. Putin has formally recognized the two breakaway “republics” – The Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Lunetsk Peoples Republic, known alternatively as the […]
Interview with Ukrainian Writer Andrey Kurkov
Here is an interview with Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov. He reports on the situation in Ukraine today. Those who find the interview interesting might also be interested in our review of his […]
Some Ideas on Stopping the Reactionary “Freedom” Convoy
Canada’s so-called “Freedom” Convoy is blocking several major bridges between the US and Canada. Ford and General Motors are having to cut back production, meaning lay off workers, as a result. Meanwhile, […]
Why Has The Fascist Canadian Truck Convoy Had Such An Easy Ride?
“Why has the fascist Canadian Truck Convoy had such an easy ride?” asks John Clarke in Canada. He answers his own question: The ability of a group of blatant fascists to […]
“Ukraine Diaries”: A Vital Explanation of the 2014 Maidan Protests and What Followed
In 2014, prominent Ukrainian writer and intellectual Andrey Kurkov published a book called Ukraine Diaries. These are excerpts from diary entries Kurkov wrote during the Maidan protests. They cover not only what […]
Will Putin Invade Ukraine?
Will Putin’s troops invade Ukraine? Putin says he is not planning to do so. However, he has every reason to deny it at this time. Most analysts predict that if he does […]
The Crisis in Ukraine, Imperialism, and a Divided Working Class
The crisis in Ukraine and the resulting extremely increased tensions between the US and Russian governments show that workers in the US cannot escape world events. That being so, it’s vital that […]
Report from Canada: Far Right Trucker Convoy Crosses Canada
John Clarke reports from Canada It can’t be denied that the far right in Canada has achieved a major organizational and political advance with its truck convoy that challenged public health measures […]
Ukraine at the heart of the world capitalist crisis
“The world is on the brink of the largest military offensive in Europe since World War II.” So wrote Foreign Affairs magazine in an article entitled “The Day After Russia Attacks [Ukraine]”. […]
Interview: Marie and Greg talk about homelessness in Oakland
My long time friends, Marie McKenzie and Gregory Dunston, talk about homelessness in Oakland, including how churches are making money off the situation.
Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. – and the winner is….
By Anthony Boynton And the winner is… China! Will Russia invade Ukraine? Probability is high, and not just because the Biden administration and the Ukrainians are afraid of it. Putin Putin faces […]
Supreme Court, Voter Suppression and Possible “Coup”
In Oaklandsocialist’s recent article “Will There Be A Coup?” we explored the various factors that would tend towards a “yes” and a “no” answer. This article homes in a little more about […]
Interview: John Reimann for Oakland Mayor
Here is an edited/shortened version of an interview I did with Zennie Abraham of Zennie62Media on my campaign for Oakland Mayor: To see the full hour and twenty minute video, go here: […]
Will There Be a “Coup”?
We usually think of a coup in terms of a military dictatorship, bloodshed, and tanks rolling down the streets. The main point, though, is the ending of “normal” democratic rights. That can […]
Report: January 6 Oakland Candlelight Vigil “For Democracy”
On January 6, 2022, liberal Democratic Party activist groups Moveon and Indivisible held memorial events to protest last year’s attempted Trump “auto coup”/riot in Washington DC. As elsewhere in the country, the […]
Omicron: Some Conclusions Starting to Emerge
The process of scientists learning about Omicron should be a learning experience for workers as well. It is a living example of how a relationship between two events doesn’t necessarily prove cause-and-effect. […]
The Biden-Putin Phone Call: Oaklandsocialist’s “Clairvoyant Correspondent” Reports
Once again, Oaklandsocialist’s Clairvoyant Correspondent scoops all other media by reporting a “transcript” of today’s Biden-Putin phone conversation. (NOTE: This story is filed under the category “Fiction More Real than Fact”) Scene: […]
The Coming Republican Election Fraud: Where Are the Protests?
I was sitting here watching the news with my heart pounding. It was partly out of pure anger, partly frustration – anger at what is being prepared for us and frustration that […]
Why I will be Running for Mayor in Oakland in 2022
In February of this year I posted this article What an Oaklandsocialist for Mayor in 2022 Campaign Could Accomplish. As I pointed out there, Oakland is not an isolated island; there is not […]
Discussing With Workers Who Support Trump
I have had multiple discussions with Trump-supporting workers. One of them I know personally. He’s a very nice guy to meet in person, and we had several long political discussions. Others I’ve […]
Cuba: the case of the young artist Abel Lescay
(Oaklandsocialist carries below an appeal for support for an imprisoned artist in Cuba. We fully support the demands for political freedom in Cuba. In doing so, we completely oppose any intervention by […]
Oxford, Michigan: Everytown USA
Oxford, Michigan, Everytown, USA, where 95% of the population is white and over half the households are married couples. Median family income is $72,875, a very comfortable income considering that a new […]
British Labour Party’s Widening Split
US workers probably pay more attention to the politics in Britain than any other country outside the US. Therefore, the widening split in Britain’s Labour Party, and what may come out of […]
The Union Democracy Movement: An Analysis
Oaklandsocialist recently posted an article on the Teamsters election and the role of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU). Here is a more in-depth analysis of that group and the whole union […]
Where is TDU Going?
Oaklandsocialist Introduction: The election of supposed reformer Sean O’Brien as president of the Teamsters Union, along with his entire slate, has been greeted with near universal and uncritical enthusiasm on the left. […]
Rittenhouse Verdict: US Headed Towards Becoming a “Failed State”?
That then 17 year old killer Kyle Rittenhouse would walk free is ominous and has implications far greater than those for just this one individual. The NY Times’s Farhad Manjoo explained the […]
Book Review: “The Jewish Question” by Abram Leon
Antisemitism (which is not the same as anti-Zionism) is reviving as the far right, including outright fascism, develops. There were over 2,000 antisemitic attacks in 2020 compared with 751 in 2013. These […]
Rittenhouse Trial: Vigilantism a Threat to Workers
The Rittenhouse trial and the trial of the murderers of Ahmad Arbery have great importance. Coming as they do after the Texas abortion law, these trials will determine whether vigilantism will be […]
John Deere Workers Reject Second Contract Proposal: Becoming a Trend
Striking John Deere workers rejected a second tentative agreement (TA) by a vote of 45% “yes” to 55% “no” on Tuesday. The new TA was a significant improvement from the first one, […]
The Day Before the Day After: A Play
The Day Before the Day After By John Reimann CHARACTERS (in order of appearance) NANCY PELOSI Speaker of the house JOE BIDEN President KAMALA HARRIS Vice President KAITLEN COLLINS a newscaster MAN […]
Message from Art Esparza, chair of the Carpenters’ P.J. McGuire Group on the Crisis in the PNW Carpenters Council
Note: Oaklandsocialist has carried numerous articles and videos of the struggle of carpenters in Western Washington to win a good contract. That struggle was basically a war on two fronts: Against both […]
“America’s Crumbling Global Position” and a Turn to Trumpism Lite?
Anti-Trump Old Guard Republican conservative Bret Stephens has an interesting column in today’s NY Times. It’s entitled “America’s Crumbling Global Position”. In it he details the foreign policy “failings” of President Biden. According […]
IATSE, the Union Leadership and Death on the Job
The accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins at the hands of Alec Baldwin on the set of Rust has to be understood in the light of the struggle of the stagehands’ […]
John Deere Strikers Can Win It All…. and Transform the Labor Movement!
The powerful position that the striking John Deere workers find themselves in means that they can win absolutely everything they want. There is no need to compromise one iota. Wall St. Journal […]
Interview with Anand Gopal: Afghanistan’s Tribal Traditions, Taliban, and US Occupation
Anand Gopal is a former reporter for the Wall St. Journal and author of the book “No Good Men Among the Living”. Gopal spent years traveling around in the hinterlands of Afghanistan, […]
The union leadership “like a PR firm for the company”: Interview with UAW member Justin Mayhugh
Justin Mayhugh is an alternate delegate in UAW Local 31 and a member of a UAW caucus called Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD). He works on the assembly line for GM. […]
Western Washington Carpenters Can Make History
It’s no exaggeration: Western Washington carpenters can make history. That’s because the situation they face is not that very different from that faced by all union members in the US; if rank […]
Abortion Rights Protest in San Francisco: Cheryl Zuur Comments
by Cheryl Zuur I went to the SF Women’s March today, one of the many across the country. I really did not want to go but knew that I MUST go. Many […]
Interview: Vermont State AFL-CIO president David Van Deusen
Last year the Vermont State AFL-CIO made some headlines when it called for a general strike in the event of an attempted coup by outgoing president Trump. Here, Oaklandsocialist talks with the […]
Video: Rank and file carpenters show what REAL unionism is!
Here is a glimpse of what the rank and file carpenters in Western Washington have been doing, how they have been shutting down jobs. Along the way, they confront the union bureaucracy […]
Video: Carpenters speak at rally organized by Kshama Sawant
Excerpts from speeches given by carpenters as well as others (including Kshama Sawant) at a rally she and her group – Socialist Alternative – organized.
Art Francisco, chair of carpenters’ Peter J. McGuire Group, speaking
Here is Art Francisco, the chair of the Peter J. McGuire Group, speaking at a rally organized by Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant.
Video: Reimann speaking at Western Washington carpenters rally
Here is the speech I gave at a rally for the Western Washington carpenters on strike against the contractors and their own union leadership. The rally was organized by Seattle city council […]
Rank and file carpenters and Kshama Sawant confront union bureaucrats
The struggle of the rank and file carpenters took a new twist on Thursday (Sept. 23) when some union bureaucrats came out to try to red-bait Kshama Sawant. It didn’t turn out […]
Carpenters take matter into own hands
Fed up with cut rate contract proposals/“tentative agreements” that were voted down four times, and fed up with a designed to fail “strike” policy, carpenters have started taking matters into their own […]
Carpenters leadership pickets empty construction site
First the Carpenters Union leadership said it didn’t want a higher raise (for the members). That would hinder “recapturing market share”, you see. That business term means that the leadership sees the […]
I Was Expelled From the Carpenters Union (and kept on working)
I was expelled from the carpenters union in 2000. My experience might be helpful to those striking carpenters in Western Washington who are worried that if they violate the Council’s pro-contractor strategy […]
CWA 7250 President: “Hit ‘em Hard!”
Kieran Knutson, President of CWA Local 7250, sent the following solidarity message to the carpenters Peter J. McGuire Group and to all the carpenters in struggle in Western Washington: Fellow workers – […]
The Most Important Strike in America Today
The strike of Western Washington carpenters is the most important strike in America today. There are quite a few other trikes, including the Nabisco strike, that involve a lot more workers (for […]
“The Fight Continues”: A striking carpenter speaks
By Jason Bartos, a striking carpenter The Fight Continues It has been an extremely exhausting week for me, the PJMG, and all of the brothers and sisters on the picket lines. I’m […]
Nina Wurz, striking carpenter, speaks at rally for rent control in Seattle
Here is another striking carpenter, Nina Wurz, speaking. This is at a rally for rent control put on by Socialist Alternative. Introducing her is City Council member Kshama Sawant, the only city […]
Art Francisco, carpenters rank and file strike leader, speaks in Seattle
Carpenters in Western Washington have forced their leadership to call a strike (of sorts). Here is Art Francisco, one of the leaders of the opposition caucus The Peter J. McGuire Group, speaking […]
Oaklandsocialist speaks at Western Washington State carpenters rank and file strike rally
Cheryl Zuur, Former Union President: “Solidarity With Rank-and-File Carpenters”
My name is Cheryl Zuur. I am a retired industrial electrician and former president of AFSCME Local 444 in Oakland, California. I stand in solidarity with your struggle. Your courage to demand […]
Western Washington Carpenters Leading U.S. Working Class
Union carpenters in Western Washington are leading the American working class at this moment. They are not waiting for the official leadership to tell them what to do anymore. Instead, they are […]
Washington State Carpenters “Strike” Update
Introduction: After having had four contract proposals/tentative agreements (TA’s) rejected by the membership, the leadership of the Western Washington Regional Council of Carpenters has been forced to call a strike. This is […]
Afghanistan and the Theory of Permanent/Uninterrupted Revolution: Making the General Concrete
Introduction This is a transcribed version of an introduction to a discussion on Afghanistan and the theory of permanent, or uninterrupted, revolution. The main purpose of the discussion was to try to […]
Germany’s Upcoming Elections: A Writer Unsure How to Vote
A writer in Germany describes the situation there and is uncertain how to vote: In Germany, elections for the Bundestag are coming up (a government and a chancellor are elected), and as […]
Video Interview Labor Day 2021: Rank & File Carpenters Oppose Cut-Rage Contract
Rank and file carpenters in Washington State are organizing a Labor Day rally as part of their campaign to stop a cut-rate contract that the union leadership, together with the contractors, are […]
Early History of Afghanistan and the Origins of the Taliban
Now that US troops have pulled out of Afghanistan, the US media will be putting that country in the rearview mirror at best. It will be moving on to the next sensationalist […]
Fight the Texas anti-abortion law in the streets!
The new law in Texas banning abortion is trying to give the US Supreme Court a sneaky way to allow that ban while pretending to avoid the issue. They are doing that […]
Video: Afghanistan protest opposes both Taliban & US
Here is the third protest of the last week by Afghani Americans in the SF Bay Area. As with the other two, this protest was demanding the US allow Afghan refugees come […]
A Dream Upon the Death of Louis Proyect
Dreams are like a good plum cobbler, mixing up all sorts of flavors – or emotions and thoughts – combining them in an unrecognizable way but with each ingredient also retaining its […]
Afghanistan, China and the Theory of Permanent/Uninterrupted Revolution
by Cheryl Zuur I watched some bits of news/documentaries about Afghanistan on Youtube. Both of them followed a woman reporter (one from France News 24) into different parts of Afghanistan, including rural […]
Book Review: The Soviet Century
Introduction, by Oaklandsocialist: It may seem to some, especially those of younger generations, that what happened in the Soviet Union is “yesterday’s news”. That is far from the truth. With “socialism” becoming […]
A Dream
First it was very simple: I dreamed I had a brand new (bright yellow) power cord that had developed numerous cracks in the insulation. I had no idea what had caused the […]
Video: Afghanistan Protest in Oakland
Consider what this young woman – the MC – is saying: “Even though we are immigrants, we are kind of settlers, we are not invited here by the indigenous people…. There’s a […]
Video: Afghanistan Protest in Fremont, CA
In order to understand the situation in Afghanistan, including who the Taliban is, we have to listen to the voices of Afghani people. Here is a video of a protest organized by […]
The Women of Afghanistan vs. the United States and the Taliban
A theme is going around on the “left” that the fact that the Taliban “won” proves that they have popular support. One of the main “left” anti-war groups in the US – […]
Afghanistan from an Indian Perspective
by Rohini Hensman* in India We [in India] too protested against the US war on Afghanistan in writing and in demonstrations. The difference is that we had already been protesting and critiquing […]
Afghanistan: Some Preliminary Thoughts
With Afghani soldiers and police now reportedly stripping off their uniforms and abandoning their posts, and with (now former) President Ghani now reported as having fled the country, the former government […]
Trump’s Last Year in Office: A Book Review
With Trump now out of office for six months, it’s time to look back over what the Trump years meant, and especially his last year in office. A series of new “Trump” […]
Rich Trumka’s Greatest Condemnation of All
Yesterday, AFL-CIO president Rich Trumka died. Nobody who really cares about workers will mourn his death. But the greatest condemnation of Trumka came from Mark Milley, former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of […]
Covid Delta Variation: Facts, Fiction and Half-Truths
It is vital for workers – and for socialists within the working class – to know and understand the actual facts on any important issue in order to combat the hysteria, myths, […]
British Labour Party Convulsed in Historic Crisis
Roger Silverman reports from London The British Labour Party is currently convulsed in a historic crisis. Founded 120 years ago as the political voice of the trade unions at a time […]
Solidaridad con la lucha obrera y popular en Irán
Traducida por mst-rd Compañeros trabajadores: Según los reportes que recibimos, Irán está experimentando un estallido de huelgas y protestas: más de 2.000 en los últimos 12 meses. Esto incluye una huelga nacional […]
January 6 Investigation: Only Scratching the Surface As Did Mueller Report?
“If a hit man is hired and he kills somebody, the hit man goes to jail. But not only does the hit man go to jail, but the person who hired them […]
Solidarity with the Struggle in Iran
Fellow workers: According to reports, Iran is experiencing an absolute outburst of strikes and protests – over 2,000 in the last 12 months. This includes a national strike of over 100,000 oil […]
Message to Trump Supporters, Science Deniers, Second Amendment’ers and Conspiracy Theorists
To all those Trump supporters, science denying anti-vaxxers, Second Amendment fanatics and conspiracy theorists who claim to love freedom: When have you ever walked on a picket line? When have you ever […]
Video: Iran Erupting in Protests
Here is a video of some recent protests throughout Iran. As Oaklandsocialist has pointed out, if a workers movement succeeds in bringing down the Mullahs in Iran, it will transform the entire […]
Colombia Update: “Veinte de Julio” (July 20th)
From Anthony Boynton in Bogotá Tomorrow is Veinte de Julio (July 20th), one of the three independence days celebrated here in Colombia. It is a legal holiday, and a day upon which […]
Support Iran Oil Workers!
Reprinted from Hekmatist.com Workers at gas, petrochemical and oil refineries have gone on strike across Iran over pay and conditions, health and safety, and social welfare. This is a national strike in […]
Book Review: “American Kompromat” by Craig Unger
US Fascism Rests on Two Pillars by Junius Review of Craig Unger: American Kompromat This latest book by Craig Unger is a follow up of his House of Trump House of Putin’ […]
Report From Myanmar: Deadly Covid Wave
Oaklandsocialist has received the following report from Myanmar about the deadly increase in Covid there: “Everyday I saw loads of posts about asking for help Oxygen tanks (needed) everywhere in Myanmar…. One […]
Interview: Simón Rodríguez on the Situation in Venezuela, Maduro’s “Bicentennial” and the Role of DSA and the International Left
Here is an interview Oaklandsocialist did with Simón Rodríguez, a Venezuelan socialist. The first part of the interview covers the general situation in Venezuela. The second part, starting at 13:49 minutes, covers […]
Myanmar Solidarity Bulletin #2
Below is issue Number 2 of the Myanmar Solidarity Bulletin. Oaklandsocialist presents it with these thoughts in mind: With a young fresh industrial working class growing by leaps and bounds, Southeast Asia […]
Will January 6 Investigation Be Another Cover-Up?
This is an interesting video for several reasons: First, it gives the clear impression that a few organized groups (Proud Boys and Oath Keepers mainly) had specific plans to invade the Capitol […]
Attack on “Critical Race Theory”: Racism and McCarthyism
John Reimann: The Republican attack on so called critical race theory has to be seen in its context. Just in the last few days, the republican controlled US Supreme Court made two […]
Podcast: The Republican Attacks on So-Called “Critical Race Theory”
Pod cast. Video and transcript coming.
Why Surfside City Condo Collapsed: What The Engineers Are Saying
It is still way to early to know for sure, but some things are starting to emerge as far as the possible reasons for the collapse of the condo tower (Champlain Tower […]
Voters Rights Bill: Who Gets To Vote? Who Gets To Count the Votes?
On a 50-50 vote along strict party lines, the US Senate has failed to override a Republican filibuster of the voting rights act. Every single Republican voted to keep the bill off […]
Myanmar Solidarity Bulletin
The first edition of the Myanmar Solidarity Bulletin has just been published. Oaklandsocialist is proud to have been one of the participants. We urge readers to download the pdf and help distribute […]
“Myanmar’s Coming Revolution”
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has published an important article on “Myanmar’s Coming Revolution”. This article is important if for no other reason than that the CFR is the most important […]
Book Review: “Working-Class Politics In The German Revolution”
The German revolution of 1919 and the years that followed hold many fundamental lessons for today. That includes lessons for the general uprising of the Asian working class that may be developing […]
Report from Bogotá: Colombia at Turning Point?
Anthony Boynton reports from Bogotá, Colombia: Tomorrow (Wednesday June 9, 2021) could be a turning point for the mass movement that erupted here at the end of April and which has thrown […]
Organize to Stop Republican Threat!
The Republican Party has been transformed into a real and serious threat, one that is much greater than anything we have seen in over 100 years. Because of the undemocratic nature of […]
Video: Multi-Ethnic Burma/Myanmar Solidarity Rally
On May 29, the Burmese community held a solidarity rally to unite all the different ethnic nationalities in Burma against the military junta. Here is a short video of that rally, featuring […]
Israel-Hamas Cease Fire and Black Lives Matter Movement
The Black Lives Matter movement can take credit for having forced Israel to back off, even if only partially and temporarily. It is an example of international solidarity in action which goes […]
Oakland A’s New Ballpark: Privatization, Job Losses and Gentrification
Back in 2014, when the corporate-controlled Oakland Zoo was moving to destroy a large part of the beautiful open space Knowland Park, zoo spokesman Nick Dehajia explained that the project would “change […]
Video: S.F. Protests Israel’s War on Palestine
Colombia: 15 Consecutive Days of National Work Stoppage… and Counting!
Anthony Boynton reports from Bogotá, Colombia, on the background to the mass protest movement that has broken out there. Also, at the end, we have received an update, dated May 15. As […]
Zoom Meeting: Discussion on stopping Republican threat
If Trump Mark I whipped up bigotry and denialism beyond anything seen in recent decades, if he did all he could to suppress democratic rights and to open up the environment to […]
“Covid Catastrophe”: Capitalism Unable to Overcome India’s Feudal and Colonial Heritage
India today: where the unimaginable actually exists through a human society near total collapse. As Indian commentator and activist Arundhati Roy put it: “The system hasn’t collapsed…. What we are witnessing is […]
The US Civil War and Reconstruction: A Zoom Meeting
The US Civil War and Reconstruction Presented by Irene Kellogg Irene writes: The Civil War and the Reconstruction Period were the most powerful periods of American history. Four million slaves liberated themselves […]
America: In Remission Before Cancer Returns?
Are we in an interregnum, a pause before we plunge into the abyss? Is the Joe Biden presidency just a temporary respite, the lull before the storm? In the pre-Trump era such […]
News of Week Ending April 24
The ending of the Derek Chauvin trial means that this will be the last week where that holds “first place” as a separate category in this week’s news summary. Police, Derek Chauvin […]
Video: Milk Tea Alliance Protest in San Francisco
Video of April 24 Milk Tea Alliance protest in San Francisco. Also see Oaklandsocialist articles: Myanmar in Struggle: Workers of the World Unite! and: General Strike in Myanmar: Don’t Forget the Rohingya! […]
Oaklandsocialist Zoom Meeting: Dealing with the Cops
The conviction of Derek Chauvin is worthy of celebration. It also shows the capitalist class’s desire to rein in police, but that threatens to open up a huge crisis as the cops […]
Chauvin Convicted; Crisis Remains
Crisis looms as capitalists struggle to rein in police. It certainly was a beautiful sight: Derek Chauvin being led away with his hands cuffed behind his back, and millions celebrated it […]
News of Week Ending April 17
For me, this last week was dominated by watching the Chauvin trial, and working on Burma/Myanmar solidarity and finally getting into shape the interview/discussion with Kieran Knutson and Cheryl Zuur. (See main […]
Video: Interview with Kieran Frazier Knutson, CWA #7250 president, Part 2
In the second half of this interview with CWA Local 7250 president Kieran Kieran Frazier Knutson, we focused on labor’s political role. As the Derek Chauvin trial was ongoing at the time, […]
Video: Interview with CWA Local 7250 President Kieran Knutson
This is the first part of a two part interview with recently elected president of CWA Local 7250, Kieran Frazier Knutson. In this first part, Kieran mainly discusses how he sees his […]
News of Week: Week ending April 11
Here are some comments on the Derek Chauvin trial as it was unfolding plus comments on some other news, for the week ending April 11. Where I have included a few comments […]
Zoom Meeting: Burma/Myanmar Update
Also see Oaklandsocialist’s articles: Myanmar in Struggle: Workers of the World, Unite! General Strike in Myanmar: Don’t Forget the Rohingya!
Why Amazon Workers Voted Down a Union and What Can Be Done
What is happening here that workers in the Amazon distribution center in Bessemer Alabama voted down the union by almost 2-1? It’s not that unions in general are unpopular. On the contrary, […]
Zoom Meeting: Follow-up Discussion on Myanmar
Zoom Meeting Saturday, April 10, 9:00 a.m. Pacific Coast Time: What are the latest developments in the movement in Myanmar, what are some of the problems and complications, and how can we […]
Video: Oaklandsocialist speaks at free Burma rally in San Francisco
Oaklandsocialist spoke at this Free Burma rally in San Francisco. We drew the links between the struggle in Burma/Myanmar, the global struggles for democratic rights, and the struggle here in the United […]
News of the Week
Note: Oaklandsocialist will try to have a regular weekly article with comments on events of the previous week. Last week, all the stars aligned to focus attention on the trial of Derek […]
Zoom Meeting: The Derek Chauvin Trial; Remember George Floyd!
Zoom Meeting The Derek Chauvin Trial: Remember George Floyd! Hear a first hand report from Linda Mann in Minneapolis on the Derek Chauvin trial. Linda will discuss last year’s uprising and the […]
What Next After Georgia Passes First Voter Suppression Law?
President Trump may be out of office, but his drive to eliminate (capitalist) democracy is not. It has just taken a new route: Vastly increased voter suppression. So far, over 250 voter […]
Oaklandsocialist Zoom Meeting: Myanmar in Struggle
Zoom meeting: Myanmar in struggle A huge movement against the military coup continues in Myanmar. The army there, which previously carried out atrocities against the Rohingya people, is now using similar methods […]
Misogynist Murderer Having a “Really Bad Day”
Myanmar in Struggle: Workers of the World Unite!
183 killed, 74 last Sunday, March 14, alone. 2,175 reported arrested, many facing charges that could mean execution. Yet tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, maybe millions continue to pour onto the […]
WIN Zoom meeting this Sunday: perspectives for USA
PERSPECTIVES FOR THE USA A Workers’ International Network meeting introduced by John Reimann (Oakland Socialist) and Tia Kurtisnger-Edison (Kentucky Alliance) The USA has entered a period of turmoil and instability. What […]
Discussion on British Labour Party
Here is a recording of the Zoom meeting we announced, the discussion on what is happening in the British Labour Party. Presenters were Tina Werkmann, Pam Bromley and John Dunn. The discussion […]
Podcast: Discussion on British Labour Party
Here is a podcast of the discussion on the British Labour Party.
Oaklandsocialist Zoom Meeting
Zoom meeting Saturday, March 6 What is happening with the British Labour Party? When left wing Jeremy Corbyn won the leadership of Britain’s Labour Party, millions of workers and young people were […]
The Murder of Fred Hampton
Here is a documentary of Fred Hampton in his own words, unedited and revolutionary. The second half is a documentary investigation of his murder. Overall, this video not only shows the fearless […]
Eyewitness in Xinjiang
(Recently there has been denials on the left of reports of repression of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang Province in China. Here, Aaron Ruby, an avowed communist, who visited Xinjiang Province […]
My Deep State Hearing Aids Overhear Another Conversation
I wrote once before about these weird deep state hearing aids that I got. As I noted then, if truth is stranger than fiction sometimes, then fiction can be truer than truth. With […]
What an Oaklandsocialist For Mayor in 2022 Campaign Could Accomplish
A political vacuum of unprecedented proportions has opened up in the United States. Not since the US Civil War has the US capitalist class faced such a political crisis. It spent four […]
General Strike in Myanmar: Don’t Forget the Rohingya!
They poured out onto the streets in the millions. They have brought the country to a virtual standstill. This is Myanmar today – workers, youth, small business people, opposing the military coup […]
Mogadishu Police Open Fire on Protesters
Police open fire on protesters in Mogadishu by Mohamed Abdi Nour General Secretary, Somali Public Trade Union Gunfire erupted in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, Friday morning after security forces cut off a […]
Republicans Declare War on Black and Latino Voters
Republican Party Declares War on Black & Latino Voters Union Activists Can Organize to Stop Them The Republican Party has declared war on black and Latino voters. That is what happened when […]
Trump on Trial: The Prosecution Presents Their Case
On the second day of the senate trial for Trump’s second impeachment, Democratic impeachment managers showed chilling video of the marauding mob rushing through the Capitol building, looking for various politicians. At […]
What Lead Up to January 6 and Some Lessons for the Future
As the impeachment hearings approach, it pays to look back at the what lead up to the January 6 lynch mob/coup attempt and what lessons can be learned. An article in the […]
Belden “Noonie Man” Batiste runs for congress
The lack of a mass working class party in the US is the key to the crisis workers are facing. If and when that starts to build, that will transform US and […]
“Jail Killer Cops”: A Talk by Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor is the author of the article ” PROSECUTE and JAIL KILLER COPS! A Tale of Mis-leadership: Why ‘Black Lives Matter: Cincinnati’ Changed Its Name” Here he explains this issue. We […]
Marxists must recognize a changed situation: We are not a religion.
Marxism is so marginalized that it is just a drop in the ocean of the wider working class. Because of this, we tend all too often to just think only of ourselves […]
Discussion with We Can’t Wait New Orleans on Biden Covid Relief Plan
We Can’t Wait New Orleans was one of the only groups in the US to hold a rally demanding real economic relief. Here is a video of a discussion they organized around […]
The Next Two Years? If You Think You Know, Then You REALLY Don’t Know!
Although things are very much in flux, the dim outlines for the next two years are starting to emerge from the mist. Executive Orders Whatever the reason, Biden’s Covid relief proposal goes a […]
Oaklandsocialist speaking at an anti-fascist rally
My speech at an anti-fascist rally earlier today. One of the groups that was a main organizer is a group that supports Assad, so I had to speak on that issue, among […]
Biden’s Covid Relief Plan: Not Just Neoliberal “Austerity”
Senator Everett Dirkson once said “You take a billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you come up with serious money.” So, what in the world has come over Joe Biden? […]
Crisis of Republican Party Is Crisis of US Capitalist Rule
For 150 years the US capitalist class has ruled through alternating the power between one of its two parties. The secondary differences in their roles helped assure the stability of that system […]
Somali Public Trade Union Sends Message of Solidarity
We have received the following message of solidarity from the Somali Public Trade Union. Such solidarity is what is needed. In sending this message, the SPTU is setting an example for the […]
The Next Twelve Days (and Beyond)
What will happen over the next 13 days is not a slam dunk. Trump is on the retreat as he has never been before. Even some Republicans are talking about impeachment or […]
The DC Riot: Lessons and Perspectives
In Munich Germany in 1923, Adolph Hitler instituted the “Beer Hall Putsch”. This attempted coup was a total failure as far as seizing power and it resulted in Hitler’s arrest. After a […]
The Next Four Years: More Reality TV
A couple of off-the-cuff thoughts on the state of affairs in US politics: (As this is being written, there are reports of a minimum of 30,000 Trump hysterics and various bigots gathering […]
My Deep State Hearing Aids
Introduction: Nowadays truth is stranger than fiction and fiction is truer than truth. Keeping that in mind… I got a set of hearing aids the other day, but I think the hearing […]
Call to Action for January 20
Sisters and Brothers, we hope you as an individual and/or your political group or union will sign onto this call: Call to Action The Covid relief bill passed by the Democrats and […]
Hedge of Insanity
From John Dunn in Britain, who is starting off the new year right I did my best to have a good Christmas, as I always enjoy commemorating the birth of an imaginary […]
Remember George Stinney, James Taylor, Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor….
As 2020 comes to a close, two old stories are put to rest. Or so the cops and capitalist politicians hope. Those are the stories of Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor. Tamir […]
A “Revolting” Christmas Poem
Twas the week before Christmas and all through the hood, A man was walking who meant no good. He was posting a note on many a door, Telling the folks they would […]
The $2000 vs. the Real Issue
Pay close attention to the “debate” on the Senate floor over whether that body will take up the one time only $2000 payment. It’s a reminder that those who control the agenda […]
Trump Going off Rails: Danger (and Possibilities) Ahead
A long time comrade of mine in Britain was comparing Boris Johnson to Trump. “Johnson’s less grotesque, but he’s also completely incompetent, unprincipled and narcissistic,” he wrote. After a bit of back […]
Oaklandsocialist interviews Leda Victoria, Candidate for House of Deputies in Mexico
Oaklandsocialist interviewed Leda Victoria, revolutionary socialist, feminist and member of MAS (Movement Towards Socialism) in Mexico. She discusses her candidacy as part of an Anticapitalist United Front that is preparing to run […]
Video: 100 Faces of Human Solidarity
History matters, whether it is the history of 10 years ago or one hundred . That is especially true for the process of revolution and counter revolution. If we completely misunderstand those […]
The Covid 19 Vaccines: What They Can and Cannot Do
A recent article in the NY Times plus some articles by scientist Dale W. Harrison help us understand what the three new Covid-19 vaccines apparently can and cannot do. Sterilizing vs. Disease […]
The Role of Money in Politics
by Michael Frank Primaries in American politics have often been referred to as “money primaries,” meaning that big money determines who the final candidates are. Those candidates who fall behind their competitors […]
Supreme Court and US Military: Saviors of “Our Democracy”?
The capitalist talking heads are celebrating. “It’s been five weeks now, and the institutions of our democracy held against this onslaught,” said constitutional lawyer Ben Ginsburg on CNN on Friday night. “Our […]
Congressional Republicans Walk Out on President Biden
Oaklandsocialist launches its powerful new Marxist time machine to bring you this news report from February, 2021: Congressional Republicans walk out as President Biden addresses joint session of congress February 30, 2021 […]
Book Review: “Dead Epidemiologists” by Rob Wallace
(By John Reimann, Oaklandsocialist administrator and reprinted from Left Voice.) There is currently a record 90,000 hospitalized with Covid-19, and over a quarter of a million people in the United States have […]
Assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh: Israel the Likely Culprit
The assassination of the Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was almost certainly carried out by Israel. Nor is it likely to be any coincidence that they did it before Trump leaves office […]
Hunger in America: Where Are the Protests?
Not just food “insecurity”, but absolute hunger is stalking America. A community food bank in Rhode Island reports a 26% increase in those seeking assistance and they estimate that one in four […]
A Reading list
A friend and comrade of mine has been urging me to put together a bibliography of some of the books I have in my “library”. Here it is. I have put in […]
New Vaccine both Welcome and Ominous
The news of this new method of producing vaccines may be just as ominous as it is welcome. Of course, we welcome a vaccine that can provide protection against Covid 19. But […]
The Post-Trump Era: Program and Perspectives for the Workers’ Struggle
Every thinking worker, every worker who cares about other people (or the planet), every worker who understands the need for working class solidarity will be breathing a sigh of relief that Trump […]
Zoom Meeting Saturday, November 14
Just when we thought things were settling down in the US, Trump has provoked a new crisis with his refusal to accept the election results. What does this crisis tell us about […]
US Election Aftermath: Peering Beneath the Surface of the “Smooth Transition” Crisis
In refusing to accept the verdict of 75 million voters, Donald Trump and his Trump-owned and operated Republican Party (Team Trump) may be sowing immediate confusion. They may be creating further conditions […]
What Really Made Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Great
Thought for the day: The two greatest prominent leaders of the last 75 years were Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. What made them great was their willingness and ability to […]
President Joe Biden: “The Dog that Caught the Car”
The coming removal of Bigot-in-Chief DonaldTrump from the White House was met with dancing in the street across the country. Rightfully so. However, we should also keep this exchange in mind: “You’re […]
US Elections: Preliminary Results
Watching the election results, and like the overwhelming majority of thinking workers, yes, I do hope that Trump loses. That is starting to look like it is more possible and it’s turning […]
Zoom Meeting on Wednesday
Stop Trump! Stop Trumpism!
The police pepper spraying of the marchers in N. Carolina who were marching to support Black Lives Matter… The Trump vigilante car caravan interference with the Biden campaign bus in Texas… Trump’s […]
Why I voted for the “lesser evil” – AKA Joe Biden – this time
After 50 years of never voting for any “lesser evil” Democrat, I voted for Joe Biden the other day. I waited for weeks to fill in the little circle by his name. […]
The Elections, A “Batshit Crazy” President and the US Capitalist Class
Oaklandsocialist has been mistaken. We have said for several years that Trump is out of the control of the mainstream of the US capitalist class. No. He is out of the control […]
Interview with Joe Burns
Oaklandsocialist interviewed Joe Burns, author of Reviving the Strike and Strike Back. Joe is the head of bargaining for the Association of Flight Attendants. The main thesis of both books is that […]
The hour is late, but not too late
Eric Blanc, one of the leaders of DSA, has published an article urging DSA to campaign for Biden. His point is that this time it’s different (which is also the title of an […]
Oaklandsocialist on New Jersey Revolution Radio
Oaklandsocialist was interviewed recently on New Jersey Revolution Radio. The whole show is interesting, but my part starts at 37:20 in.
Supreme Court, the Second Amendment and the Real History of the US Constitution
The elevation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court and the fact that that court will now have five Trump thinkalikes; the role of the armed and dangerous “militias” and […]
A Few Thoughts on the Second Biden-Trump Debate
CNN reported an interesting result regarding last night’s Biden/Trump debate: One reporter of theirs watched the debate with ten “undecided” voters in North Carolina. As a result of the debate none of […]
Sara Nelson: The 21st Century’s John L. Lewis?
In 1935, John L. Lewis, president of the coal miners union, famously punched right wing president of the Carpenters, Bill Hutchenson, in the jaw, walked out of the AFL, and formed the […]
US Elections: Some Background and Perspectives
It now seems increasingly likely that Trump will be gone come January 20. In order to understand where we might be headed, we have to consider what Trump represents. We are in […]
Kamala Harris debates Mike Pence
Here’s my talking heads, political junkie analysis of last night’s debate between Pence and Harris: I think the Democrats’ strategy during last night’s debate was simply “don’t screw up.” In other words, […]
Kieran Knutson & Cliff Willmeng: Two fighters run for union office
Kieran Knutson and Cliff Willmeng are long time fighters for working class people and all the oppressed. They are also anti-capitalists who both live in Minneapolis and are running for […]
Donald Trump: Different from Previous Republican Presidents
The news of Trump’s testing positive for Covid 19 has largely overridden discussion of his bullying behavior during the debate with Biden. This positive test is no accident. By continually engaging in […]
BLM leader gives cover to Proud Boys
Equating the Proud Boys with white supremacy has some serious limitations. That’s because they actually have black members and they don’t campaign against black people per se. Despite their denials, however, they […]
Labor vs. Fascists
U.S. Elections: Is a “Shitstorm” Coming?
An article from Atlantic magazine is drawing considerable notice. The publishers considered the article so important that they published the October issue of their magazine (which contains the article) before its scheduled publication […]
“Why Won’t AFL-CIO Call a General Strike?”
The current issue of the popular “left” magazine Jacobin has an article Why Won’t the US’s Largest Labor Federation Talk About a General Strike? But the author doesn’t even ask a lot “smaller” […]
Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies: What comes next?
The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg will probably decisively end an entire era in the role of the US Supreme Court and how it is seen by the great majority of Americans. […]
Video: Social Democracy in Denmark
It’s important for workers to understand the history of social democracy, known as “democratic socialism” in the US. Like elsewhere in Europe, in Denmark it arose as part of the working class […]
Video: “Feels like the end of the world”
It was dark and eerie all day as smoke from wildfires all the way from upper Washington down through Oregon and Northern California hovered over Oakland. A young woman told me “it […]
I want to leave California
I want to leave California. In 1969, when I first arrived in this state, already much of nature was being destroyed, but it was still beautiful. We used to take trips up […]
Rob Wallace Speaks to Workers International Network, Part 2
“Those of us who are radicalized often accept the premises of our enemies…. But we arrive at a moment when we understand that those who are running things are a bunch […]
Rob Wallace Speaks to Workers International Network, Part One
Here is the first part of a two-part series of Rob Wallace speaking on capitalist development and Covid 2. This was recorded from a meeting hosted by the Workers International Network. For […]
Podcast: Rob Wallace Speaks to Workers International Network, Part 1
First of two parts of the presentation of Rob Wallace on capitalism and Covid 19. Also see posts as video.
Are “Hong Kong” and “Belarus” Coming to America?
A major split is opening up within the US capitalist class. This split has implications for the already-existing movement from below. Two columns in the September 3 NY Times show what is […]
Rob Wallace to Speak Sunday, September 6
COVID 19, HABITAT DESTRUCTION AND FACTORY FARMING A Workers International Network Meeting Sunday 6th September at 7 p.m. British Summer Time/ 1pm US Central Time Speaker: Rob Wallace Rob Wallace is an evolutionary epidemiologist with the Agro-ecology and Rural Economics Research […]
Oaklandsocialist leaflet: “Where are the unions?”
Oaklandsocialist distributed this leaflet at the Oakland protest against the shooting of Jacob Blake. We got a good response. Let’s hope something comes of it, especially since the pro athletes are setting […]
Hard Knock Radio/Davey D interviews John Reimann on environment and Covid 19
Here is an interview that this blog site’s administrator, John Reimann, did with popular radio host Davey D Cook on the environmental causes of Covid 19 – how this and other viruses […]
Belarus: The last act has not been written
A central feature of the events in Belarus is going more or less unreported: Fully one half of the Belarusian economy is through state-owned enterprises. This fact has given Belarus dictator Alexander […]
Oaklandsocialist support for Iranian strikers distributed in Iran
A month ago, Oaklandsocialist carried a report of the strike of Haft Tapeh strikers in Iran. We also wrote the following letter of support: “We send our comradely greetings to the Haft […]
A Constitutional Path Towards Dictatorship?
A recent column in the Washington Post, entitled Trump Keeps Pretending to be Dictator, explained that presidents are “constrained by Congress and the courts and the law and international treaties, not to […]
Davey D interviews John Reimann of Oaklandsocialist
My interview with Davey D of Hard Knock Radio. How Covid 19 is spread through unsafe factory farming For more detail on the environmental issues, see this article: Covid 19, capitalism […]
Covid-19 denialists: An explanation of their thinking
“Belief in science is the worst form of superstition ever”… a medical doctor in Germany. “Listen up Numb nuts This whole mask thing is a psyop to condition you to comply with […]
Trump’s Troubles Deepen Still Further
WSJ editors suggest Trump withdraw from race Trump’s troubles with his own class – the US capitalist class – continue to worsen. They see him as too unreliable, too destabilizing of their […]
Defend, expand $600 federal unemployment subsidy
It is past time for a movement in the streets to demand the continuation and in fact the expansion of the $600/week federal unemployment subsidy! The US economy in free fall, declining […]
Report from Placerville, CA
By a member of the UFCW and anti-racist activist Friday July 17th 2020 This protest was organized in response to the attacks on Main St businesses with Neo Nazi propaganda. Contrary to […]
Trump’s not-so-secret war: Voter suppression and how to fight it
The strategy of the Trump reelection campaign is starting to come into more clear focus. That strategy is to combine widespread repression with voter suppression in order to return Trump into office […]
RIP John Lewis
John Lewis, long time civil rights icon and then member of the House of Representatives has died. Many on the left will remember him for his role as an establishment liberal. I […]
Economic train wreck coming
A short note on the Covid-19 economy: If you think things are bad now, you ain’t seen nothing yet. While there was a slight pickup in May, which continued into June to […]
Strike of Haft Tapeh workers in Iran
From Aman Kafa of the Hekmatist Party (official Line) – Organization Abroad July 14, 2020 Four representatives and speakers of Haft Tapeh workers, Youseff Bahmani, Ebrahim Abassi, Mohammad Khanifar, Moslem Cheshm Khavar […]
Trump, Fauci and Ecomodernism
Compared to the lies of Trump and the religious mysticism of Mike Pence, Anthony Fauci seems like a breath of fresh air. He bases himself on science, after all. Why, then, has […]
Russian bounties, WMD’s and big game hunters
When a big game hunter goes after a large and dangerous beast, he had better understand how that beast functions, or else the hunter can become the hunted. The same is true […]
Reform the police? A serious discussion needed
Friends and comrades, “Police reform” is one of the major issues of the day. For liberals and social democrats, the question stops there. Marxists have to have clarity on the question. We […]
The Crimes of the Minneapolis Police Department
By a Minneapolis union member and anti-racist activist The crimes of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) against the people of Minneapolis are many. This is an organization charged with upholding an unjust […]
Trump headed for a crash?
What do we make of Trump’s claim that he was never briefed on the US intelligence belief that Putin’s government had placed a bounty on the heads of US soldiers in Afghanistan? […]
Republican election strategy starting to emerge
The Republicans’ November election strategy is starting to emerge. Yesterday the US Supreme Court made an important but lightly noticed ruling on Texas voting law. They allowed Texas to prohibit all mail-in […]
Is Trump deflating?
Hold up! What is that sound we’re hearing? Is it the sound of the air being let out of the Trump balloon? Trump’s moves to consolidate his grip on the various branches […]
Juneteenth Port of Oakland shutdown photos
Some photos of yesterday’s event: Next is the march over the overpass towards downtown Oakland Next in front of OPD headquarters and at Oscar Grant Plaza I always feel that some […]
Video: Juneteenth Port of Oakland shutdown
Short video from the Juneteenth Port of Oakland shutdown. Also see leaflet Oaklandsocialist distributed. Also see still photos here. Make it a movement
Grocery workers walk off in solidarity with #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd!
by a worker at Seward Co-op On June 16th nearly the entire staff on shift at Seward Co-op’s Franklin Ave. store in Minneapolis walked out for a 9 minute work stoppage to […]
History of the Minneapolis Police Department, Part I
Abolish the Police Pt. 1 What is the MPD and why it can’t be made into something for us . . . By a Minneapolis union member and anti-racist activist (This is […]
Trump in trouble, the future is uncertain (to say the least)
Trump is in deep trouble, but the outcome is uncertain. His national approval ratings are sinking like a stone, down from 41% approval, compared to 55% disapproval as of June 11. This […]
AFL-CIO statement on George Floyd: A suggestion for a rank and file resolution to be introduced at the local level
Two weeks after George Floyd was choked to death by the Minneapolis police, the AFL-CIO has issued a full statement on this crime. They should have waited two years. “The scourge of […]
Minneapolis City Council votes to “disband police” – will they?
When the police make a high-profile arrest, they make him or her walk in public through the throng of reporters. It’s called a “perp walk.” On June 6, Minneapolis’s reform minded young […]
Oaklandsocialist leaflet for a program
This leaflet is based on the previous article on the need for a program. If you like it, please use it!(Note:pdf at bottom.) ungovernable movement needs program
Our ungovernable movement needs a program
We have marched, we have sat-down, we have occupied freeways. And yet the wave of murders of black people by the police continues. It has unleashed a rage. From Bronx New York to […]
Video: Oakland protest Friday, June 5
A short video of the protest in Oakland on Friday, June 5. If you like the video, we urge you to check out our blog. See, for example, Minneapolis and the Crisis […]
Video of Oakland protests
Video of the protests in Oakland over last few days. Also see articles on Minneapolis and the crisis of US capitalism, and other related articles including a solidarity letter from the Somali […]
Oakland protests photos
Photos from Oakland protests. The top ones are from the aftermath of the first night of protests here.
Solidarity to protesters from Somali Public Trade Union
The Somali Public Trade Union sends this message of solidarity to the protesters in the US and to the family of George Floyd. Please distribute widely. A pdf of this message is […]
Are you a union member?
Leaflet I’m distributing. Also see: George Floyd murder shows need to completely transform the unions.
Minneapolis and the crisis of US capitalism
Divided, led by a demented and out-of-control president who is absolutely despised and has no credibility whatsoever among wide layers of society, with out-of-control police forces across the country, the US capitalist […]
Health Care Workers Murdered in Somalia
Oaklandsocialist has received the following appeal: SPTU, Is an Independent trade union based in Somalia. is shocked and outraged by the barbaric killing of seven healthcare workers and one civilian at the […]
“It’s a beautiful thing”: Interview with Minneapolis Activist
Kieran is a union member and a long-time activist in Minneapolis. Here he explains who it is who has been out in the streets, how the police and the politicians are reacting […]
Killer cops doing “Essential Work” – a poem
Essential Work by Raymond Nat Turner We’ll always need Race car drivers roaring down streets where children chase balls; like We’ll always need peaceful protesters pepper sprayed like cockroaches; And We’ll always […]
Covid-19, the rise of new zoonotic diseases and the capitalist disaster
“Science and socialism go hand-in-hand” Felicity Dowling In today’s NY Times, the bard of neoliberalism, Thomas Friedman, wrote about how Trump cannot defeat “Mother Nature”, which as he explained “is entirely made up […]
Podcast: Covid-19, the rise of new zoonotic diseases and the capitalist disaster
Podcast of Oaklandsocialist introduction to Zoom meeting of this title. The meeting was hosted by the Workers International Network (WIN).
Poem: More Mengele Medicine
More Mengele Medicine from Boss Tweet and the1% “As to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm.” ― Hippocrates “It is very […]
Zoom Meeting Saturday, May 23
Covid-19, the rise of new zoonotic* diseases, and the capitalist disaster Saturday 23rd May at 9 a.m. Pacific Time [* Zoonotic = diseases transmitted from other species to humans] The Covid-19 pandemic […]
Interview with ER nurse Cliff Willmeng
Oaklandsocialist talks with ER nurse Cliff Willmeng. Cliff was terminated for fighting for safety on the job. For more on the worker fightback, see our article Strike wave without precedent which can […]
Trump, Covid-19, and new steps towards authoritarian one-man rule
With each twist and turn in events, with each step he takes, Trump is driven ever further down the road of one-man authoritarian rule. His recent steps in that direction have flown […]
When my fellow carpenters surprised me
So, here’s a little bit of personal history, a mistake that I made, that maybe we all can learn from: In 1999, some 2000 SF Bay Area carpenters went out on a […]
President Franklin Delano Cuomo?
How does the sound of “President Franklin Delano Cuomo” grab you? Like it or not, Cuomo is already in effect running against Trump. Every day he’s on national TV, giving a fact-based […]
Strike wave without precedent for decades: What is to come?
A wave of strikes and walk-outs that is unprecedented in numbers is sweeping the United States. It’s largely flown under the radar because the capitalist press in general isn’t reporting on it […]
Fauci, Birx and the union leadership: Accommodating capitalism
“The daily death toll [from Covid-19] will reach about 3,000 [nearly double the official White House prediction] on June 1, according to an internal [CDC] document obtained by The New York Times…” […]
May Day 2020 in Oakland
Here is a short video of May Day, 2020 in Oakland. We end this video with a call to support all those workers who are working under unsafe conditions, but especially the […]
May Day Greetings
MAY DAY GREETINGS! We’re celebrating May Day 2020 in extraordinary times. The flimsy tissue of capitalist “civilisation” has been torn asunder. So far a quarter of a million people have died worldwide, […]
Pamphlet: Covid 19 – the capitalist pandemic
New oaklandsocialist pamphlet Covid-19: The capitalist pandemic Introduction As the capitalist class loses control over society, a new workers’ movement seems to be breaking out. Already, workers have conducted over 100 […]
Covid-19 and the science we need to understand it: Rob Wallace and Theo Colborn
John Ioannidis is at it again. He’s got an article that is making the rounds in scientific circles which claims that the actual mortality rate for Covid-19 is far lower than thought […]
Is Trump cracking up?
Is Donald Trump cracking up? An article in Thursday’s NY Times describes him as being “in a sour mood after his morning marathon of television” (which he watches for five or six […]
Urge UFCW President Perrone to act: Please sign petition
Please sign the petition and pass it on. Grocery workers are essential workers and their health and safety is as important as anybody else’s. Yet in this Covid-19 emergency, the stores are […]
Notice in SaveMart and Lucky’s food stores
This notice is being posted in SaveMart and Lucky’s food stores, at least in Northern California. The information on the particular store where this has been posted is blacked out to protect […]
Back-to-work protests a threat to all workers’ health and safety!
The back-to-work/business as usual protests of far right fanatics is a threat to your health and safety. Consider: At Safeway’s distribution center in Tracy, CA, 51 workers were found to be infected. […]
Prayers, guns and “freedom”
In response to the calls of the Trump idiots and of the Idiot in Chief himself to go back to work, there have been conversations on various construction worker Facebook pages. Here’s […]
Poem: Now’s the time
By Raymond Nat turner coronavirus is coming across treacherous food deserts—their Red Lined decades of diabetes— over hills of hypertension; steep mountains of medical neglect; over shattered ruins of poverty like a […]
Coronavirus, mortality rates and environmental factors
The Covid-19 pandemic is but the most striking example of how the laws of nature are affecting the lives of ordinary working class people. As we will show, we as workers cannot […]