By Arun Gupta (October 3, 2017) I wrote this four years ago about the left’s relationship to violence and guns. It’s more relevant than ever. Leftists who think getting armed is a political strategy need to get over their love affair with violence. Now, in these increasingly dangerous times, there may be specific instances where guns are a reluctant necessity….
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By Arun Gupta (July 28, 2017) This is my take on Trump’s ban on transgender people in the military. It should be vigorously opposed, and that can be done without glorifying or supporting militarism and American Empire Trump is throwing red meat to his base. It’s meant to delegitimize and dehumanize transgender people. He is telling his base that transgender…
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By Arun Gupta (May 17, 2017) There is a lot of grief and anguish in Portland. The killings of the two men standing up to defend women of color were horrific and jarring to everyone in the city of what their sense of community is. But life and politics go on. Here are some principles you may find useful going…
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By Arun Gupta (January 30, 2017) I am getting notes and articles forwarded from numerous people, smart people, that are full of paranoid speculation about coups, false flag operations, and military mobilizations. STOP IT. This is exactly what the Trumpkins want. They want you to be paranoid, to be consumed by fear and irrationality. The last thing they want you…
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By Arun Gupta (January 24, 2017) Last weekend saw the two poles of American protest. One side was the inspiring and historic Women’s Marches. But it was non-confrontational and the Democrats are working furiously to co-opt it and shunt it into electoral politics. If that happens, it will be a disaster like the “Wisconsin Uprising,” and the entrenchment of Scott…
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By Arun Gupta (November 19, 2016) Apparently Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS, never personally killed anyone despite the fact the SS probably killed over 10 million people. The reason I mention this is if Trump nominated Himmler for a senior White House position, we would see articles in the Washington Post saying, well, Himmler never personally The…
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By Arun Gupta (October, 11, 2016) It’s over for Trump, so what happens next? No modern presidential candidate has overcome a 4-point gap in October, and that was the margin before the tapes. The latest poll, NBC/WSJ, has him 11 points down in a four-way match, 14 points in a two-way match. There is noise in the data…
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By Arun Gupta (October 9, 2016) Trump is toast barring something unprecedented like Clinton being forced from the race. He has a slim chance to staunch the bleeding, though not really recover, if he trounces Clinton in the debate Sunday night. But that is unlikely given a) that a town hall format plays to Clinton’s strengths and will showcase his weaknesses;…
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By Arun Gupta (September 21, 2016) I know it’s the fifth anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, but there is little to celebrate at such a grim moment. That being the likelihood Trump may very well win. If he does, Black Lives Matter will be declared a domestic terrorist outfit, just like the Earth Liberation Front was under Bush. Trump and…
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By Arun Gupta (March 25, 2016) I asked dozens of activists and organizers what tangible movement building is coming out the Bernie Sanders campaign. Here’s what I found. The last half of the article will be of interest to many as it examines different responses from organized socialists. It’s a mixed bag at best.
By Arun Gupta (March 3, 2016) Dear Bernie Sanders supporters, I know it’s difficult to accept but it’s over. Fivethirtyeight.com, which provides the best analysis of electoral chances, writes that Hillary Clinton’s lead is pretty much insurmountable, and that’s not including super-delegates.