Paul Heideman
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Articles by Paul Heideman
Where Are the Democratic Socialists of America Going? Original
The history of the American left is marked by imposing peaks and valleys. Over the last century and a half, organizations have sprung up and, often within a decade of their founding, become major institutions of US politics. They have typically declined nearly as quickly, with few sustaining their positions in American society longer than a decade or so.
For socialists, legislative hardball has limits
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For Socialists, Legislative Hardball Has Limits
The Right, as Corey Robin has famously argued, learns from the Left. Edmund Burke argued conservatives should copy the Jacobins. The slaveholders, even as they denounced the rights of man, celebrated the demotic virtues of widespread slaveholding in the antebellum South. Newt Gingrich argued that the conservative minority in the House needed to adopt “Viet Cong” tactics to harry the majority. More recently, the Left has also attempted to learn from the Right.
Five Takeaways From Francesca Hong’s Near-Win in Wisconsin
Francesca Hong, the democratic socialist running in the Democratic primary for the Wisconsin governor’s race, lost last night in an extremely close election. She came within half a percentage point of beating David Crowley, the executive of Milwaukee County. Preelection polling showed Hong with a commanding lead, and many assumed she would coast to victory. As such, her result is being spun as a hard defeat for the socialist left. The truth is more complicated.
The Case for Carceral Minimalism
When Karl Marx wrote that the past “weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living,” he wasn’t talking about 2020, but he may as well have been. That year weighs particularly heavy, it seems, on democratic socialists running for office. Everyone from New York’s Zohran Mamdani to Wisconsin’s Francesca Hong has been confronted with statements they made in that year, generally on the subject of defunding or abolishing police and prisons.
Ruling-Class Disarray Let the GOP Go Off the Rails
Interview by Micah Uetricht Every day, millions of Americans get out of bed, tune into the news, and ask themselves a simple question: How the hell did the Republican Party become so spectacularly unhinged? The GOP is fully off the rails, unbothered by any seeming concern for basic political economic stability, the empirical reality of things we can see with our own eyes, and the fundamentals of human decency.
Alan Greenspan Was a Faithful Servant of the Ruling Class
During his 2008 presidential campaign, John McCain joked that he would put Alan Greenspan in charge of tax policy even if the recently retired central banker were deceased. “If he’s alive or dead it doesn’t matter. If he’s dead, just prop him up and put some dark glasses on him, like Weekend at Bernie’s.” McCain’s timing, as always, was terrible. The quip about Greenspan was made in October of 2007, as the housing market collapse that would trigger the Great Recession was accelerating.
The GOP Is at War - Without the Foreign Policy Establishment
The Trump administration’s attack on Iran was hardly a surprise. Since January, the military buildup around Iran has telegraphed that an attack was imminent. Yet despite being long foreseen, the attack was no less shocking. The assassination of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei signaled this would not be a repeat of the Twelve-Day War last summer but a far more bitter and destructive conflict.
Donald Trump Is Staying the Course
In 2005 and 2006, as the horror and futility of the occupation of Iraq was finally beginning to penetrate American public opinion, George W. Bush had a slogan he liked to deploy to shut down antiwar sentiment: “Stay the course.” Last night, Donald Trump showed himself to be, in this respect at least, a disciple of Dubya.
Paint the Town Red
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Nativism vs. the Bottom Line
In Donald Trump’s Republican Party, immigration is one of the few issues on which there remains a party line. On trade, Republicans are divided between protectionists and free traders. On foreign policy, Russia hawks joust with China hawks, though both seem open to bombing Mexico. On economics, rhetorical commitments to protecting entitlements sit side by side with traditional GOP libertarianism.
Rogue Elephant
Rogue Elephant traces the radicalization of the Republican Party over the past fifty years, arguing that its subordination to Donald Trump was not an anomaly, but rather the culmination of processes at work for decades. Providing a new perspective on figures from Newt Gingrich and George W.
Por qué bajo el capitalismo las reglas del juego están hechas contra los trabajadores
Fuentes: Jacobin [Imagen: Claus Offe, Poklekowski / ullstein bild a través de Getty Images] Los trabajadores deben organizarse para obtener poder, mientras que los capitalistas lo ejercen individualmente a través de los derechos de propiedad. Esta asimetría fundamental, como explicó el sociólogo alemán Claus Offe, crea una cadena de obstáculos que dificultan enormemente la acción colectiva de la clase trabajadora.
Por qué bajo el capitalismo las reglas del juego están hechas contra los trabajadores
La muerte del sociólogo alemán Claus Offe el 1 de octubre marcó la desaparición de uno de los últimos intelectuales socialistas europeos de la posguerra.
Why the Deck Is Stacked Against Workers Under Capitalism
Why the Deck Is Stacked Against Workers Under Capitalism Published October 11, 2025 The death of German sociologist Claus Offe on October 1 marked the passing of one of the last postwar European socialist intellectuals.
Why the Deck Is Stacked Against Workers Under Capitalism
The death of German sociologist Claus Offe on October 1 marked the passing of one of the last postwar European socialist intellectuals. Famous for his analysis of the contradictions of advanced capitalist societies in the 1960s and 1970s, he came from a cohort of thinkers who took as their horizon of thought questions concerning the balance of power between labor and capital, the possibilities and limits of reforms in capitalist society, and the evolving political economy of capitalism.
Nativism vs. the Bottom Line
In Donald Trump’s Republican Party, immigration is one of the few issues on which there remains a party line. On trade, Republicans are divided between protectionists and free traders. On foreign policy, Russia hawks joust with China hawks, though both seem open to bombing Mexico. On economics, rhetorical commitments to protecting entitlements sit side by […] Sorry, but this article is available to subscribers only. Please log in or become a subscriber.
Donald Trump Rules Over a GOP in Disarray
For most of the twentieth century, the Republican Party was the preferred party of the American capitalist class. While the Democrats were never totally bereft of support from American business, retaining the allegiance of various sectors even at their lowest moments, most business owners supported the GOP most of the time. This support, in turn, formed the foundation of Republican administrations from William McKinley to Dwight D. Eisenhower to George W. Bush.
Donald Trump Rules Over a GOP in Disarray
The electoral victories of Donald Trump and remaking of the Republican Party in his image can’t hide a basic fact: his party is fractured and weak. For most of the twentieth century, the Republican Party was the preferred party of the American capitalist class. While the Democrats were never totally bereft of support from American business, retaining the allegiance of various sectors even at their lowest moments, most business owners supported the GOP most of the time.
Capitalist Disorganization Has Enabled Trump’s Dominance
Interview by Vivek Chibber When Donald Trump entered the fray of the 2016 Republican Party primary, he was not a candidate that most of the business class wanted. Yet despite this opposition, Trump was able to defeat the GOP establishment and ultimately capture the presidency. He soon established a level of personal dominance over the party unseen in US political history.
A Key Opportunity to Check Trump: Stopping Medicaid Cuts
At this early moment in Donald Trump’s second administration, all of the action has been in the executive branch. The various executive orders he has issued (generally sadistic, unconstitutional, or both) have drawn great scrutiny. His empowerment of Elon Musk in the Department of Government Efficiency to bypass Congress and reshape the federal government however Musk wishes has ignited nothing less than a constitutional crisis.
Trump’s Weakness Is the Left’s Opportunity
Many assumed Donald Trump would be governing in a second term with no guardrails. But guardrails are in fact still there. Understanding these constraints is key to defeating him. By Paul Heideman Jan 30, 2025 We remind our readers that publication of articles on our site does not mean that we agree with what is written. Our policy is to publish anything which we consider of interest, so as to assist our readers in forming their opinions.
Trump’s Weakness Is the Left’s Opportunity
As soon as Donald Trump won the election in November, predictions about his second term began to fly. Among liberals and leftists, the dominant interpretation has been that a second Trump term would be “without guardrails,” as Ezra Klein has put it. While much of the Republican Party, from Mike Pence to Reince Priebus, was dedicated to restraining Trump in his first term, now the party is united around Trump as führer.
Trump’s Weakness Is the Left’s Opportunity
As soon as Donald Trump won the election in November, predictions about his second term began to fly. Among liberals and leftists, the dominant interpretation has been that a second Trump term would be “without guardrails,” as Ezra Klein has put it. While much of the Republican Party, from Mike Pence to Reince Priebus, was dedicated to restraining Trump in his first term, now the party is united around Trump as Führer.
El partido del capital estadounidense
Fuentes: Jacobin América Latina - Traducción: Natalia López / Imagen: Tres de los billonarios donantes del Partido Demócrata: George y Alex Soros, y el co-fundador de LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman. Aunque hace algunos años haya parecido improbable, el Partido Demócrata ha devenido en la organización por excelencia del capital estadounidense. En el camino, fue perdiendo todo vestigio de su base obrera.
Democrats: The Party of American Capital
Shortly before the 2000 election, BusinessWeek magazine introduced a new kind of investment vehicle to the American public. Several firms, the article revealed, had constructed funds whose performance would be highly correlated with the outcome of the election. Customers could buy into a George W. Bush or an Al Gore fund, each of which was loaded with stocks and derivatives that would jump in value if its candidate won. The composition of the funds is informative.
Donald Trump Would Be Weaker the Second Time Around
Donald Trump is not the most articulate interpreter of the American past. While many US presidents have been keen to locate themselves in a certain American political tradition, Trump has generally shown little interest in doing so. His few forays into this sort of endeavor have accomplished little beyond revealing his discomfort with the subject. In 2017, for example, he compared his election to Andrew Jackson’s, musing, “They say my election was most similar to his . . .
Donald Trump Would Be Weaker the Second Time Around
Donald Trump is not the most articulate interpreter of the American past. While many US presidents have been keen to locate themselves in a certain American political tradition, Trump has generally shown little interest in doing so. His few forays into this sort of endeavor have accomplished little beyond revealing his discomfort with the subject. In 2017, for example, he compared his election to Andrew Jackson’s, musing, “They say my election was most similar to his . . .
The Black Antifascist Tradition
"This introduction to the Black anti-fascist tradition is a necessary intervention for our increasingly dangerous and authoritarian times. Drawing on Ida B. Wells, Mary McLeod Bethune, Angela Davis, and more, Hope and Mullen offer an accessible history and strategies for forward movement." —Ms. Magazine "With the rise of the far right and the threat of another Trump administration, the need for Black antifascist rhetoric and practice is more salient than ever.
With Kevin McCarthy’s Removal, a Long Government Shutdown Just Got More Likely
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaimed, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” That message has not yet reached the House Republican caucus. After less than a year of attempting to maintain a ceasefire among members of his party, Kevin McCarthy was ousted yesterday as Speaker of the House by a handful of Republicans. His downfall serves as a reminder of how deeply divided the GOP remains, and a warning of the high risks and low rewards that await those attempting to bridge that chasm.
The Antiabortion Movement Is the Rotten Fruit of a Brutally Unequal Society
The appeal of the labor supply theory is easy to see, especially with corporate media droning on about a supposed labor shortage. The argument goes like this: Abortion restrictions force people to give birth against their will, producing a higher population and therefore more workers. An increased supply of workers reduces labor’s bargaining power relative to capital. Therefore, it’s in capitalists’ interests, in periods of lower fertility, to limit abortion and expand the labor supply.
The Life of Socialist George Woodbey Must Not Be Lost to History
Unfortunately, Woodbey’s historical record mostly ends in 1915. We don’t know how he responded to the tremendous repression the Socialist Party faced during World War I, or to the party’s collapse (and the Communist Party’s ascent) after the war. Records suggest he died in 1937, but very little evidence remains of his activity in the final two decades of his life.
The Life of Socialist George Woodbey Must Not Be Lost to History
Unfortunately, Woodbey’s historical record mostly ends in 1915. We don’t know how he responded to the tremendous repression the Socialist Party faced during World War I, or to the party’s collapse (and the Communist Party’s ascent) after the war. Records suggest he died in 1937, but very little evidence remains of his activity in the final two decades of his life.
Focus On the Family?
Focus On the Family? The return of the dynastic firm isn’t enough to explain the radicalization of the GOP. Paul Heideman ▪ February 9, 2022 Dick Armey works the phones at FreedomWorks on Election Day 2010. The following is a response to “Family Capitalism and the Small Business Insurrection,” an essay by Melinda Cooper in our Winter 2022 issue. What’s the matter with the Republican Party?
Dysfunction Is Central to the Basic Functioning of American Society
Compared with most other advanced capitalist countries, the United States is a mess. Our archaic eighteenth-century constitution ensures legislative gridlock and empowers small minorities to block democratic will. Our health care system leaves tens of thousands to die every year because they can’t afford treatment, as millions more forego necessary care because of the cost.
The Virginia Governor Race Shows That Dems Can’t Count on Running Against Trump
Glenn Youngkin’s victory in Virginia’s gubernatorial race seems to have confirmed Democrats’ worst fears about the fragility of their coalition. In a state that Joe Biden won by ten points and that hasn’t elected a Republican to statewide office in over a decade, Youngkin was able to defeat former governor Terry McAuliffe in a close race. What’s more, there are ominous signs that this isn’t a standard midterm reversal.
Jim Clyburn Is Wrong About FDR and the New Deal
Is Joseph Robinette Biden Jr the new Franklin Delano Roosevelt? Many people would certainly like to think so. Prominent among them is his chief of staff, Ron Klain, who has enthusiastically pushed the comparison. Many on the Left are, of course, skeptical of such premature canonization. But skepticism has also come from another direction. Recently, House majority whip Jim Clyburn argued that “if [Biden’s] going to have credibility, [he] must be much closer to Harry Truman than to Franklin Roosevelt. .
The Selected Works of Eugene V. Debs Vol. III
The Selected Works of Eugene V. Debs Vol. III The Path to a Socialist Party, 1897–1904 Edited by Tim Davenport and David Walters This massive six volume set gathers together the most important spoken and written words of Debs for the first time, allowing a deeper understanding of radical political opposition in America during the first quarter of the twentieth century. Eugene V.
Joe Biden’s Narrow Win Won’t Hold for Long Once He’s in Office
Capitalist democracy is a class compromise. Capitalists agree to tolerate workers having a say in politics, and in return, workers agree not to use their vote to take away capitalists’ property. Neither side gets everything it wants, but both can live with it. As Larry David put it, “A good compromise is when both parties are dissatisfied.” Tuesday’s election results were a confirmation of capitalist democracy’s ability to live up to Larry David’s axiom.
Technology and Socialist Strategy
“Anything but capital.” For mainstream economists, that’s the unspoken rule governing talk of what’s to blame for inequality. From Greg Mankiw’s petulant response to Occupy to Tyler Cowen’s argument that technology has rendered the middle class obsolete, those tasked with explaining economics to Americans are eager to exonerate the rich. Cowen’s argument in particular develops a theme that has become increasingly prominent in the debate over inequality.
Soul of the Dem Party Has Always Belonged to Capital
It used to be said that you could tell a lot about a leftist’s politics by asking them when they thought the Soviet Union went bad. Anarchists and social democrats said 1917, Trotskyists 1928, Maoists 1956, and if you were in the Communist Party (CP), the answer was never. There’s a similar dynamic at work in left narratives about the Democratic Party. Did it go bad with Bill Clinton and the Third Way in the 1990s? Or with Carter’s embrace of austerity?
The Soul of the Democratic Party Has Always Belonged To Capital
Review of John Nichols, The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party (Verso 2020). It used to be said that you could tell a lot about a leftist’s politics by asking them when they thought the Soviet Union went bad. Anarchists and social democrats said 1917, Trotskyists 1928, Maoists 1956, and if you were in the Communist Party (CP), the answer was never. There’s a similar dynamic at work in left narratives about the Democratic Party. Did it go bad with Bill Clinton and the Third Way in the 1990s?
To Fight Racial Inequality, We Have to Attack the Power of Corporations
Since the uprising against police brutality and racial injustice erupted in late May, corporations have been falling all over each other to prove their anti-racist bona fides. The international accounting giant KPMG published a blog post by a senior associate explaining why he celebrates Juneteenth.
Manning Marable Was a Pioneering Black Marxist. His Work Speaks Directly to Our Moment
Manning Marable was one of the most accomplished radical intellectuals in the United States when he died in 2011. Part of the founding generation of black studies scholars in the United States, Marable entered the academy in the wake of the struggles of the 1960s and became a towering historian of movements for racial justice. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to disseminating radical ideas as widely as possible, writing regularly for black newspapers across the country.
Bring Back the Superdole!
As congressional negotiations over a new round of stimulus heat up, cash aid has emerged as a major sticking point. Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has joined with Republican Josh Hawley to demand another round of $1,200 checks, arguing that bailouts for state governments and the airlines aren’t enough for people suffering from the pandemic’s dire economic effects. Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have gone even higher, demanding $2,000 checks this time around.
Adam Silver Isn’t Protesting
Our spring issue, “Pandemic Politics,” is out now. Get a discounted subscription today! As long as no one risks the league’s power or profits, the NBA can sell politics all the way to the bank. As long as no one risks the league’s power or profits, the NBA can sell politics all the way to the bank. Remove Icon ESC Small As long as no one risks the league’s power or profits, the NBA can sell politics all the way to the bank.
To Break the Power of the Police, We Need to Mobilize the Power of Labor
Among the many buildings torched this past week, one stands out as an odd target: the AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. While some have speculated that protesters set the lobby ablaze Sunday night because of the labor federation’s failure to pursue racial justice with sufficient gusto, the more likely explanation is that protesters saw it as just another fancy edifice. That’s a tragedy.
When Rioting Works
American liberalism has a distinctly contradictory relationship with black protest. On the one hand, liberals imagine themselves the best friends (in contemporary parlance, “allies”) of the cause of black equality. On the other, since at least the 1930s, liberals have recoiled from black militancy, convinced it served little purpose but to strengthen the hand of reactionaries. With uprisings now shaking cities across the country, American liberalism’s divided mind has been revealed once again.
Stop Trying to Shame Socialists Into Voting for Joe Biden. It’s Not Going to Work.
In the New York Times yesterday, Mitchell Abidor added his voice to the swelling chorus hectoring young leftists to support Joe Biden. Leaning on the bathetic open letter published by veterans of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Abidor chides the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for not heeding their elders and endorsing a candidate whose career has been spent opposing everything they stand for.
Stop Trying to Shame Socialists Into Voting for Joe Biden. It’s Not Going to Work.
In the New York Times yesterday, Mitchell Abidor added his voice to the swelling chorus hectoring young leftists to support Joe Biden. Leaning on the bathetic open letter published by veterans of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Abidor chides the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for not heeding their elders and endorsing a candidate whose career has been spent opposing everything they stand for.
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