The hottest Progressives Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

DSA’s Electoral Strategy Works: A Response to Left Voice & DSA’s Left-Wing Critics

JoeWrote • 33 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. DSA favors a pragmatic electoral strategy, running on multiple ballot lines rather than being tied to the Democratic Party, and that approach has increased its membership and elected wins.
  2. Demanding a fully independent socialist party misunderstands American politics: independent left parties have had little electoral impact, so meeting people where they are is needed to build power.
  3. Open debate and criticism are part of the organization, and wasting time on purity fights weakens the left — unity around practical, result‑driven organizing is more effective than ideological infighting.

Abortion Bans and Bible Groups

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 5553 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. Rural communities are important for organizing support, even in conservative areas, because bringing people together creates hope and solidarity.
  2. Engaging with rural spaces in political movements can challenge stereotypes and uplift communities, showing that every signature and vote counts.
  3. Efforts to connect with rural parts of a state, like Missouri, are crucial for overall political success and to ensure representation for all citizens.

Liberals are bad and they know it

The J. Burden Show • 2276 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. Progressives leverage minor truths to demolish broader cultural narratives and heroes, eroding the foundation of civilization.
  2. Progressives use tactics like degrading heritage figures to attack their enemies and undermine the legitimacy of ruling classes.
  3. Liberal insecurity drives them to denigrate great men and attempt to erase historical examples that contradict the idea of progress.

Illegal Immigration at the US Border: Who's Behind It and Why

Peter Boghossian • 727 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. Chris Martenson discusses the journey of migrants from Ecuador to the US border, often aided by organizations like the UN and Catholic charities.
  2. The conversation highlights the hypocrisy of Western governments allowing illegal immigration and the resulting distrust in governmental institutions.
  3. The talk concludes on a hopeful note, despite the challenges discussed.
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Are US progressives playing into Trump’s hands?

Writing from London • 393 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. The US progressive movement is not fully embracing an anti-fascist strategy in response to Trump's tactics.
  2. There is a lack of unity and compromise among Democrats, with concerns about the candidate choices and their approach to attracting moderate Republicans.
  3. The article warns that failure to adopt a more inclusive approach may have negative consequences in the upcoming elections.

The Zohran Age

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 13 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City mayor in a symbolic midnight ceremony, and his victory feels like a new political era that would have seemed unlikely a year ago. He still comes across as humble and connected to everyday life rather than a distant, self-important politician.
  2. He identifies as a democratic socialist, is openly pro-Palestine, and looks to Bernie Sanders as a guide, campaigning on populist promises to uplift working-class New Yorkers. Early priorities he’s pushed include universal childcare, free buses, rent freezes for rent‑stabilized apartments, and a Department of Community Safety pairing mental health professionals with police.
  3. His initial hires have mostly been cautious and conventional to reassure moderates, though one appointee resigned over past offensive tweets. He intends to move quickly, but governing New York is complex and he’ll face major challenges working with conservative institutions and many unknown variables.

In a Deep-Blue City, Will Locals Get Tough on Crime?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 677 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. The city of Austin, Texas is facing a surge in crime rates, with concerns over the progressive criminal justice reforms led by District Attorney José Garza.
  2. The upcoming Democratic primary race for District Attorney in Austin will determine the future of criminal justice policies, with moderate candidate Jeremy Sylestine challenging Garza's progressive agenda.
  3. There is a divide among Austin residents, with some supporting Garza's approach of reducing incarceration and addressing root causes of crime, while others criticize him for leniency towards criminals and lack of justice for victims.

The Forgotten Case Against Milton Friedman

Informer • 98 implied HN points • 14 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. Milton Friedman's ideas changed economics by challenging the Phillips curve trade-off between inflation and unemployment.
  2. James Tobin provided an alternative theory of inflation focusing on demand shifts between sectors.
  3. Progressives didn't fully embrace Tobin's theory, leading to disagreements on tackling inflation and interest rates.

Not everything is #ButHerEmails

Silver Bulletin • 347 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. Media coverage can have significant impacts in elections, such as the focus on Clinton's emails in 2016.
  2. Progressives are using the term #ButHerEmails to criticize media coverage that they feel is unfair to Democrats.
  3. The concept of The Big Cope suggests Democrats blaming media coverage for unfavorable election outcomes.

The Irrelevance of Today’s Left

America in Crisis • 79 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. Populists in the late 19th century were concerned with economic harm on small farmers, forming political alliances to combat big corporations and finance.
  2. Socialist-Labor parties focused on working class issues and sought rights like collective bargaining, influenced by the works of Marx and Engels.
  3. Progressives aimed to reform the system, implement economic and regulatory changes, eventually transforming into liberals and embracing neoliberal economics.

The great conexit from public life

Wrong Side of History • 460 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. Declining status of academics contributes to leftward drift of institutions.
  2. Conservatives are more apolitical and less likely to engage in activism compared to progressives.
  3. Pressure from social norms and laws can lead individuals to publicly adopt liberal or progressive beliefs regardless of personal convictions.

5 Lessons The Left Can Learn From Ryan Grim’s New Book, “The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution”

JoeWrote • 23 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives
  1. The Democrat establishment views progressive politicians as a bigger threat than Republicans, as seen in their actions against The Squad.
  2. Progressive politicians, like The Squad, face a steep learning curve when entering Congress without prior political experience, leading to challenges in navigating the political landscape.
  3. Progressives should not be afraid to lose, as it is important to stand by their principles even in the face of opposition and criticism.