Congress returns today from its August recess, but Democrats cannot return to politics as usual. Neither collaboration nor silence will slow Trump’s march toward authoritarianism. From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/dWJkzqz
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Congress returns today from its August recess, but Democrats cannot return to politics as usual. Neither collaboration nor silence will slow Trump’s march toward authoritarianism. From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/dWJkzqz
Without a quorum at the NLRB, organized labor is pushing blue state legislatures to codify “trigger laws” that protect workers’ right to organize when the NLRB is unable to do so. From James Baratta: trib.al/NQBO5GT
The management-side labor law firm Littler Mendelson is advising employers to ignore a Rhode Island ban on forced employee attendance at anti-union meetings, according to a private webinar obtained exclusively by the Prospect. From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/BP9SagI
While the Biden administration brought the might of the federal government to the anti-monopoly fight, current battles over data centers and music venues show that “resisting corporate power will have to go local in the age of Trump.” From @ronmknox.bsky.social: trib.al/8znXM7h
Co-sign. I have seen some pitiful Democratic leaders in my time, but absolutely none come close to this bunch.
How can a figure as unpopular as Trump be threatening an authoritarian takeover? It’s because “everybody with the ability to stop Trump” is “sleepwalking.” From @ddayen.bsky.social:
The DNC’s political and moral idiocy was on full display last week, as the party establishment refused to support a resolution opposing offensive weapons sales to Israel. From Harold Meyerson:
Fast fashion has exploded in popularity by allowing low-income consumers to fill up their closets with cheap knock-offs, but this strategy relies on a cycle of consumption and debt. From Ella Tummel: trib.al/IZ0Ntl8
Donald Trump’s TX redistricting strategy relies on Latinos voting for him at the same rates they did in 2024. But these voters are swingy, and if Democrats persuade them to switch sides, this play could backfire. From @ddayen.bsky.social:
Trump’s embrace of the revolving door may allow some corporations to acquire more influence and greater profits, but it will leave everyday Americans and the federal government far worse off. From @jeffhauser.bsky.social and @timi-iwayemi.bsky.social with @revolvingdoordc.bsky.social:
The DNC’s continued support of arms shipments to Israel is idiotic: both morally and strategically. The majority of the party opposes Israel’s war on Gaza, and DNC leaders threaten to alienate their base by continuing an unjust war. From Harold Meyerson: trib.al/oD4IlSf
“The deals are designed to appear painless and fun, but for many young shoppers, the aftermath is debt, clutter, and guilt.” Fast fashion hooks Gen Zers with cheap, trendy clothing advertised on social media. But the costs soon add up. From Ella Tummel: trib.al/AsIlPRg
“There are some limits to unfair maps, even in the worst-case scenario.” Republicans are trying to redraw Congressional maps based on data from 2024, but there’s a lot that could change before 2026 midterms. From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/RRB0AfV
Trump promised to drain the swamp. Instead he’s delivered the most corrupt administration in American history, and officials are already jumping ship to peddle their influence at lobbying firms. From @jeffhauser.bsky.social and @timi-iwayemi.bsky.social @revolvingdoordc.bsky.social: trib.al/tmtQhfI
In theory, equity stakes, closing tariff loopholes, and protecting vital domestic industries are not bad policies. But in the hands of Trump, these ideas are bad, because he has no plan or strategy for governance. From @ddayen.bsky.social:
Despite the moral calamity of the Gaza war—and Democrats’ overwhelming opposition to it—the DNC voted against a resolution opposing the sale of offensive weapons to Israel. This is moral and political idiocy. From Harold Meyerson:
For budget-oriented consumers, the rock-bottom prices of fast fashion “feels like a sense of freedom.” But in reality, it creates a culture of overconsumption, one that fast fashion companies kindle through their use of influencers. From Ella Tummel: trib.al/aUtdSjl
Donald Trump believes his gerrymandering ploy will save him from a midterm defeat, but that assumption is predicated on the GOP holding their 2024 levels of support from Latinos. That may not be the best bet. From @ddayen.bsky.social:
“It has become a political cliché to say something new is like something old, but ‘on steroids.’” When it comes to Trump’s corruption, bribery and self-dealing, it’s true. From @jeffhauser.bsky.social and @timi-iwayemi.bsky.social @revolvingdoordc.bsky.social:
Republicans have long claimed to be the party of business. But if you're a business owner, Trump’s contradictory economic policies are making it almost impossible to get the materials you need or deliver products to customers. From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/poJ1Rkv
The DNC squashed a resolution opposing the continued provision of arms to Israel. This isn’t the first time the DNC has ignored their base’s demand to end an immoral war, and it could renew a generational divide within the party. From Harold Meyerson: trib.al/BkPHNyo
Fast fashion is all about abundance. Low prices and influencers convince Gen Zers to buy more and more, until the charges start adding up. Fast fashion has become the number one category of goods for shoppers who buy now, and pay later. From Ella Tummel: trib.al/DWw1Ffz
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Democrats and Republicans around the country have been waging war over Congressional maps. However, changing demographics and shifts in the Latino vote might make these maps less safe than they appear. From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/LXf1AOy
“The revolving door between the federal government and the corporations that encircle it has been Trump-sized.” The path from administration insider to K Street lobbyist is even easier in 2025. From @jeffhauser.bsky.social and @timi-iwayemi.bsky.social @revolvingdoordc.bsky.social: trib.al/CvstiFe
Trump’s acting U.S. attorney in Nevada just declined to prosecute an Israeli government official caught in a pedophile sting operation. Her political history shows the “emerging Mafia bureaucracy comprising Trump’s Department of Justice.” From Maureen Tkacik:
The Fed’s response to Trump’s attempted firing of Lisa Cook was “almost an invitation for Trump and Chief Justice John Roberts to do their worst.” Let’s see if Roberts accepts it. From Robert Kuttner:
RFK Jr. has previously criticized wearables as dangerous to Americans’ data privacy, a position that experts agree with. But now, he is calling them “key” to the MAHA agenda while saying he wants “every American” using the technology in the next 4 years. From Charlie McGill:
Trump’s top housing regulator wants lenders to “count cryptocurrency as an asset for a mortgage.” This is a recipe for mortgage fraud and a more volatile housing market. From James Baratta:
One of the biggest myths in American life is that Republicans are good for business. If you look at what Trump and the GOP have actually done, Republicans are bad for your bottom line. From @ddayen.bsky.social:
Trump doesn’t have a plan for the economy ,and it's hurting businesses. From Etsy shops to microchip manufacturers, Trump's slapdash and contradictory economic policy is making it harder for businesses to operate. From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/nA2UhAS
“It seemed to be based on some Tweets.” The FHFA’s decision to include cryptocurrency as an asset on mortgage applications would weaken mortgage underwriting standards and allow for high-risk loans reminiscent of the Great Recession. From James Baratta: trib.al/MJhQ5f7
RFK Jr. was once a skeptic of the tech industry and a crusader for the protection of personal data. Since taking office, he’s been promoting wearable health technology—a $50 billion industry that threatens to make these fears a reality. From Charlie McGill: trib.al/pYIuC08
Trump hasn’t been able to come up with a reason to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook “for cause.” But the Supreme Court’s absurd ruling in Trump v. Wilcox means that they might be able to give him one. From Robert Kuttner: trib.al/pb6IHtn
Trump appointee Sigal Chattah allowed an Israeli official caught in an underage sex sting operation to return home. That official’s lawyer is just one of a colorful cast of characters that gave thousands to Chattah’s campaign. From Maureen Tkacik: trib.al/dHOh62F
Trump is fighting to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook, but that still won’t give him control of the Fed. His attempts at interference stand to rattle the economy at a time of rising unemployment and slowing economic growth. From Robert Kuttner: trib.al/i38U2Go
Trump’s version of state capitalism is just another part of his attempt to undermine the separation of powers. To address market failures, the left has to look beyond the “hybrid halfway houses of state capitalism.” From Harold Meyerson: trib.al/SPJrdZr
Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gasses, and it's a much bigger problem than the fossil fuel industry wants to admit. The Trump administration is doing everything it can to hide the data. From @hannahstoryb.bsky.social: trib.al/M17OvRy
“I never imagined that I would see a protest this big in Philipsburg.” Protests outside the massive Moshannon Valley ICE detention center have drawn hundreds of people, and divided a town where ICE is the largest employer. From @mikeelk.bsky.social: trib.al/beu56XB
Sigal Chattah, acting U.S. attorney in Nevada, allowed an Israeli official caught soliciting a minor to flee the country. Some of Chattah’s biggest donors have their own colorful criminal histories, and significant ties to Israel. From Maureen Tkacik: trib.al/bz77jjj
Trump’s threat to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook signals his greatest attempt yet to take over the independent agency. Robert Kuttner explains why it won’t work, but also how it could do damage:
Trump’s version of state capitalism is not socialist, but rather personalist, a small part of his “Trumpization” of everything. From Harold Meyerson: trib.al/H3v9Vbf
The Trump administration is systemically abolishing federal controls on methane, one of the single greatest contributors to climate change. From @hannahstoryb.bsky.social with @revolvingdoordc.bsky.social:
In Central PA, an old coal mining town has turned into an ICE detention hub, with the ICE Moshannon Valley Processing Center being the town’s largest employer. A protest is drawing attention to the inhumane conditions. From @mikeelk.bsky.social:
Trump’s acting U.S. attorney in Nevada just allowed an Israeli government official caught in a pedophile sting operation to flee home. An investigation into her previous campaign donors reveals the “emerging Mafia bureaucracy” that is the Trump DOJ. From Maureen Tkacik:
Bluesky: The Trump administration is “coming for everybody in the labor movement,” workers say, after the EPA nullified all but one collective bargaining agreement with its employees. From James Baratta: trib.al/CegAaYh
On the road to dictatorship, the Trump administration’s smaller outrages almost get paved over. The Rose Garden renovations, Russian-style military displays, and the Maxwell transcript diversion represent the cheapening of America. From Robert Kuttner: trib.al/SrFS8Ih
Trump steps up his war on wind, canceling a Rhode Island wind farm that was 80% complete and would have provided electricity to 350,000 homes—potentially wasting billions of dollars. From @ryanlcooper.com: trib.al/qxAZQ82
In reproaching the Smithsonian’s Museums for emphasizing “how bad slavery was,” Trump joins a long tradition of apologists for American slavery that stretches back to 1867. From Robert Kuttner: trib.al/p19nZOs
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner tells the Prospect that voters want someone who will “fight for the working class.” Platner’s performance will be a bellwether for the future of the Democratic party as it attempts to take back the Senate. From Austin Ahlman: trib.al/R5t8EmP
After ending all but one of their collective-bargaining agreements, the EPA went a step further by requiring that all workers receive prior approval for any union activity—even on non-duty time. From James Baratta:
With Trump consistently creating outrageous headlines, the smaller outrages under his presidency go largely unnoticed. Robert Kuttner created a short list to remind you of them:
Despite the fact that billions have already been invested and construction is nearly complete, Trump just issued a stop-work order for the Revolution Wind Project off the coast of Rhode Island. From @ryanlcooper.com:
In a truly deranged Truth Social post, Trump blasted the Smithsonian for displaying exhibits that show “how bad slavery was.” If this is Trump’s newest cause, it seems to be one of the “lost” variety. From Robert Kuttner:
In an interview with the Prospect, the rising populist star Graham Platner spoke of a new Gilded Age and a need to take on billionaires and their control of our political system. Read the full profile from Austin Ahlman:
The DNC will vote on a resolution supporting the end of U.S. arms shipments to Israel next week. It’s an opportunity to close the biggest gulf between the party elites and the rank and file. From Harold Meyerson: trib.al/oSbto6J
Watch @ryanlcooper.com and Robert Kuttner discuss the D.C. invasion and Trump’s lawsuits of retribution on this week’s Prospect Weekly Roundup: trib.al/rQ4DGob
A Teamsters local in Chicago is on strike to protect immigrant workers from ICE raids. Workers say that the raids “[bring] a lot of fear to our workplace, with the chance of people getting detained.” From @sarahlazare.bsky.social with @workdaymagazine.bsky.social: trib.al/LhjnZRj
Elon Musk finally found a court that accepts his ridiculous argument that the NLRB is unconstitutional. No surprise that it’s the far-right Fifth Circuit. From Harold Meyerson: trib.al/cvhRAPF
Workers tell the Prospect that the EPA is “100 percent union busting” after they unilaterally ended all but one collective bargaining agreement and demanded that workers get pre-authorization for union protected activities on non-duty time. From James Baratta: trib.al/v9vCbYg
Next week, the DNC will have the option to pass a resolution supporting a ban on U.S. arms sales to Israel. Will the party meet its base where it’s at, or will it continue with Biden’s “do-nothing policy?” From Harold Meyerson:
On this week’s Prospect Weekly Roundup, @ryanlcooper.com and Robert Kuttner discuss Trump’s D.C. occupation and the witch hunts against Lisa Cook and John Bolton:
A Teamsters local in Chicago has been on strike for 11 weeks, with one of their demands being that their employer turn away federal immigration enforcement unless they have a signed judicial warrant. From @sarahlazare.bsky.social with @workdaymagazine.bsky.social:
In 88 years, no challenge to the NLRB’s constitutionality has succeeded in court. That changed last week, when the far-right Fifth Circuit agreed with Elon Musk’s arguments that the agency was unconstitutional. From Harold Meyerson:
As if ending their collective bargaining agreements wasn’t enough, the EPA is now demanding that workers seek prior approval for protected union activities even after work hours. From James Baratta:
Documents obtained by @prospect.org show that EPA managers are attempting to require prior approval for union-protected organizing activities—on non-duty time. This is a federal agency and employer trying to tell workers what they can do when they're off the clock. James Baratta reports:
In Texas, THC regulation is driving a new wave of “synthetic designer drugs,” leaving questions about how to keep up with the increasingly dangerous industry. From Charlie McGill: trib.al/yZOKEFm
For years, Ohio has funneled public money into a voucher program funding religious and private schools in the state. A recent ruling found the program unconstitutional, but the state is doubling down. From Ella Tummel: trib.al/AnMcjGn
The Fed is one of the few remaining agencies Trump doesn’t control. His attack on Fed governor Lisa Cook may change that. From Robert Kuttner: trib.al/BZfHR8p
Families in Indiana and Tennessee will soon lose access to summer EBT benefits, cutting off thousands from vital grocery aid. Bryce Covert reports: trib.al/kerQTen
For years, moderate Democrats refused to eliminate the filibuster and grant D.C. full statehood, leaving the door wide open for Trump’s coup d’état dry run. From @ryanlcooper.com: trib.al/0jYqmUm
The Trump administration just accused Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud, relying on flimsy evidence from supposedly confidential sources. The move shows the extent of Trump’s police state. From Robert Kuttner: trib.al/CTOItZr
The recent bankruptcy of skateboarding brand Liberated Brands shows how private equity has infected every sector of the economy with their extractive and short-sighted business practices. From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/LTUEB0E
Despite accepting the funding last summer, Indiana and Tennessee’s Republican governors opted out of the Summer EBT program this year, leaving federal money for nutrition assistance on the table. From @brycecovert.bsky.social with @capitalandmain.bsky.social: trib.al/cMGYJL4
An Ohio court just struck down a voucher program that allowed recipients to use taxpayer dollars on religious schools. It’s a blow to “school choice” advocates who often seem more concerned with religious teaching than choice. From Ella Tummel: trib.al/XKMEzdp
For years, progressives have warned that leaving D.C. as a “disenfranchised colony” would “lead to disaster.” Trump’s military invasion of the city shows why. From @ryanlcooper.com: trib.al/3DK7BCS
In a microcosm for how our financialized economy works, private equity has taken the skateboarding industry and ripped out its soul by extracting as much value as possible from iconic companies before leaving them as a “desiccated shell.” From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/Y3LxA2y
Trump is attempting to push Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook out of her job, accusing her of mortgage fraud. But the real fraud may be how the Trump admin got its flimsy evidence, which was almost surely a misuse of government data. From Robert Kuttner:
This summer, Indiana and Tennessee’s Republican governors opted out of the Summer EBT program, causing many residents to ask, “How can they not feed the kids?” From @brycecovert.bsky.social: with @capitalandmain.bsky.social:
In Ohio, a judge just struck down a school choice program that allowed recipients to use public money to subsidize the tuition of private religious schools. From Ella Tummel: trib.al/K2hkQnX
A handful of Senate Democrats, by refusing to end the filibuster and make D.C. a state, “paved the road down which Trump is now driving armored vehicles.” From @ryanlcooper.com: trib.al/iKjImIM
In Texas, legislative fights over THC regulation are creating a new market for harmful “synthetic designer drugs,” leaving questions about how to manage the quickly growing and increasingly dangerous industry. From Charlie McGill: trib.al/zoJeiqI
Once an anti-corporate counterculture, private equity is turning skateboarding culture into a sanitized corporate grift. From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/NufsbE6
Trump’s clumsy political hit job against Fed governor Lisa Cook shows that under a police state, no one is safe. From Robert Kuttner: trib.al/zHCYKSR
Indiana and Tennessee opted out of summer EBT, a program that gives thousands of families essential grocery support. Bryce Covert reports: trib.al/gNgCrjR
Despite a recent ruling that found Ohio’s EdChoice scholarship unconstitutional, the state is going all in. From Ella Tummel, inside Ohio’s faith-based voucher machine: trib.al/YQecvOB
Trump’s D.C. takeover is clearly based on lies. But moderate Democrats’ failure to end the filibuster and grant D.C. its statehood set the stage. From @ryanlcooper.com: trib.al/tjmJTHZ
By cutting nearly all federal funding for mRNA vaccine research, RFK Jr. has destroyed perhaps the best defense against future pandemics. From @ryanlcooper.com: trib.al/YVhnHnf
When Trump fired the BLS commissioner after a poor jobs report, he cited huge revisions to jobs numbers as the reason. But it turns out that “much of the extreme revision” is “Trump’s own fault.” From Robert Kuttner:
The Department of Transportation relies on advisory committees to draft safety regulations for freight rail, passenger rail, and the trucking industry. Now, the Trump administration has fired all the experts on these panels. From James Baratta:
Before redistricting took over Texas politics, state lawmakers were already arguing over how to regulate the state’s growing—and increasingly unsafe—hemp-derived THC industry. From Charlie McGill:
Representing our financialized economy writ large, private equity’s takeover of skateboarding has destroyed leading brands and eroded the local relationships that kept skateboarding thriving. From @ddayen.bsky.social:
The DOD’s response to allegations of sexual assault in the military have been hampered by spending cuts. Pete Hegseth, who has been accused of sexual assault himself, may soon be tasked with developing a military sex offender registry. From @drboguslaw.bsky.social: trib.al/vLToERj
The Department of Transportation relies on advisory committee experts to keep passengers and workers safe. The Trump administration just fired them all. From James Baratta: trib.al/ddIVp1A
“They’re going to go away because they do follow the law—and all you’re going to be left with is the junk.” Texas is creating a new market for harmful hemp-derived THC products. From Charlie McGill: trib.al/rgalclL
Prospect co-founder Paul Starr appeared on the "Court of History" podcast to discuss how Trump and the Roberts Court have eroded constitutional protections—and what it will take to undo the damage. Watch here: trib.al/C560sJN
At every turn, working people are hurting because of this administration’s War on Workers led by the Union-Buster in Chief. Thank you @majorityreport.bsky.social, for having me on to talk about my article in @prospect.org. Thank you @emmavigeland.bsky.social for the conversation.
Skateboarding was a rebellious counterculture; now, private equity is turning it into just another corporate grift. From @ddayen.bsky.social: trib.al/4qOV99j
#Skateboarding once sported a “quintessentially anti-corporate” ethos. Then private equity stepped in. Now every bottom-up brand “that gets a little success becomes a sitting duck for a financial vulture.” @prospect.org #inequality prospect.org/economy/2025...
Roger Alford, the former #2 at the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, just blew the whistle on pay-to-play antitrust corruption. @ddayen.bsky.social breaks down what he said and the impact it may have on his MAGA audience: trib.al/lQkZDqx