Author Archives: Robert Reich

How McConnell is killing the Senate

Congress has recessed for two weeks without passing a desperately needed disaster relief bill. Why not? Because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell didn’t want to anger Donald Trump by adding money for Puerto Rico that Democrats have sought but Trump doesn’t want. Continue reading

Dimon in the rough

In his annual letter to shareholders, distributed last week, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon took aim at socialism, warning it would be “a disaster for our country,” because it produces “stagnation, corruption and often worse.” Continue reading

Socialism for the rich, capitalism for the rest

“We renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country,” Donald Trump said recently. Continue reading

The myth of meritocracy

Most Americans still cling to the meritocratic notion that people are rewarded according to their efforts and abilities. But meritocracy is becoming a cruel joke. Continue reading

How Trump is killing capitalism

Why didn’t Boeing do it right? Why isn’t Facebook protecting user passwords? Why is Phillip Morris allowed to promote vaping? Why hasn’t Wells Fargo reformed itself? Why hasn’t Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) recalled its Roundup weed killer? Continue reading

The real scandal of Donald Trump

We may never know for sure whether Donald Trump colluded with Vladimir Putin to obtain Russia’s help in the 2016 election, in return for, say, Trump’s help in weakening NATO and not interfering against Russian aggression in Ukraine. Continue reading

Why unions matter to you

As I travel around the country, I tell people: if you have a job, join a union. And if you don’t have a union, start one. Continue reading

Trump cornered

What does a megalomaniacal president of the United States do when he’s cornered? We’ll soon find out. Continue reading

A bold new idea to boost wages

The challenges are well known: Working Americans are struggling to keep up with the increasing cost of living. Unemployment is low, but wages of most Americans have remained flat. More than three-quarters of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck. Most can’t afford a $500 emergency. Continue reading

America has already fired Trump

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s soon-to-be-delivered report will trigger months of congressional investigations, subpoenas, court challenges, partisan slugfests, media revelations and more desperate conspiracy claims by Donald Trump, all against the backdrop of the burning questions: Will he be impeached by the House? Will he be convicted by the Senate? Will he pull a Richard Nixon and resign? Continue reading

Howard’s end

America is the only place in the world where any citizen over the age of 35 can run for president. No experience in government necessary. No support from a political party necessary. You don’t even have to have any ideas or policy proposals. Continue reading

Bernie is back

It’s easy to forget the condescension and amusement that greeted him when he announced his first campaign for president on May 26, 2015. Continue reading

Trump wants socialism for the rich, harsh capitalism for the rest

“America will never be a socialist country,” Donald Trump declared in his State of the Union address. Someone should alert Trump that America is now a hotbed of socialism. But it is socialism for the rich. Everyone else is treated to harsh capitalism. Continue reading

Public workers’ trump

Air traffic controllers hold the trump card (pardon the expression) in upcoming negotiations between Donald Trump and congressional Democrats over border security. Continue reading

The fall of Davos Man

The annual confab of the captains of global industry, finance, and wealth is underway in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum. Continue reading

Trump’s assault on the rule of law

The “rule of law” distinguishes democracies from dictatorships. It’s based on three fundamental principles. Trump is violating every one of them. Continue reading

The big economic switcheroo

The biggest untold story about how we pay for government involves a big switcheroo by America’s wealthy. Continue reading

The Trump dictatorship

The only redeeming aspect to Trump’s presidency is he brings us back to basics. And what could be more basic than the difference between democracy and dictatorship? Continue reading

Why Trump’s private transactions are terrifying

Trump has described the payments his bag man, Michael Cohen, made to two women during the 2016 campaign so they wouldn’t discuss their alleged affairs with him, as “a simple private transaction.” Continue reading

How to hold corporations accountable

Charles E. Wilson, the CEO of General Motors in the middle part of the last century, reputedly once said that “what was good for our country was good for General Motors, and vice versa.” Continue reading

The truth about privatization

Privatization. Privatization. Privatization. It’s all you hear from Republicans. But what does it actually mean? Continue reading

China tariffs are a regressive tax on Americans, and risk a recession

“I am a Tariff Man,” Trump tweeted last week. “When people or countries come in to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so. . . . We are right now taking in $billions in Tariffs. MAKE AMERICA RICH AGAIN.” Continue reading

Trump takes on General Motors (and guess who wins?

Donald Trump’s “America first” economic nationalism is finally crashing into the reality of America’s shareholder-first global capitalism. Continue reading

What’s a subpoena—and should Trump fear it?

You’re probably hearing a lot about subpoenas. Or you will very soon, once Democrats take control of the House. Continue reading

Trump’s assault on the rule of law

The “rule of law” distinguishes democracies from dictatorships. It’s based on three fundamental principles. Trump is violating every one of them. Continue reading

Time for Medicare for All

In the midterm elections, most Democrats who were elected or reelected to the House supported Medicare for All. Continue reading

The next crash

Sorry to deliver the news, but it’s time to worry about the next crash. Continue reading

The American social contract

With divisions this deep, it can often feel like we can’t agree on anything. Continue reading

Democrats: don’t go high or low, go big and bold

Donald Trump says the midterm elections are a “referendum about me.” Of course they are. Everything is about him. Continue reading

Message to millennials

You are the largest, most diverse, and progressive group of potential voters in American history, comprising fully 30 percent of the voting age population. Continue reading

Three easy fixes to Social Security and Medicare that Republicans don’t want you to know about

Republicans would love to get rid of Social Security and Medicare. But they can’t, because Social Security and Medicare are among the most popular of all federal programs. Besides, most Americans have been paying into them their whole working lives, and depend on them. Continue reading

The truth about the Trump economy

I keep hearing that although Trump is a scoundrel or worse, at least he’s presiding over a great economy. Continue reading