I have a new essay at the Washington Monthly. I review Naomi Klein’s new book, Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, evaluating its strengths and sizable flaws. More broadly, I consider how and why our political culture has become so bizarre, silly, and destructive.
I’ve written two essays on the deeply disturbing explosion of antisemitism since the October 7th pogrom that Hamas engineered against Israelis.
For the Washington Monthly, I examined the presidential race, as it currently stands, surveying the troubling reality that, among the candidates likely to appear on the ballot, President Joe Biden is the only one unworthy of accusations of antisemitism. In the essay, I take a close look at how Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Cornel West flirt with antisemites..
For the Bulwark, I issued a statement to fellow progressives, warning against the dangers of antisemitism, and declaring that I – and I suspect I am not alone – will not associate with antisemitism. The American left must eradicate the antisemitism currently festering and growing within its own ranks. The modern form of an ancient hatred is a moral abomination, and it undermines any intellectual and ethical credibility we could hope to have in the struggle against the fascistic right.
I have reviewed a new attempted hitjob against the Clinton administration for the Washington Monthly.
The book, poorly written and lazily researched, isn’t worth much attention other than that it functions as a greatest hits collection of leftist fallacies regarding the record of the Clinton presidency.
In my essay, I deal with the actual record of accomplishment, explain why every socioeconomic indicator of American moved in the right direction during the 1990s, and defend Clinton against the increasingly popular conspiracy theories, distortions, and bromides regarding his two terms in the White House.
Read at the Washington Monthly.
Recently, Rev. Jesse Jackson announced that he is “pivoting” to a more minor role at the human rights and political advocacy organization that he founded, The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. I met with the civil rights leader to discuss his future plans, current political issues, and his fight with Parkinson’s Disease. Read at the New Republic.
I have a new essay at Salon. It explores the idiocy of the new Jason Aldean song, connecting it to a history of hatred and violence. As I write, however, “In small towns, it is easy to find better politics and music.” John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Tyler Childers, Rhiannon Giddens, Jason Isbell, and Miranda Lambert provide examples of progressive patriotism, from a small town perspective. Their vision of the provincial is winning, while Aldean’s is becoming more paranoid, estranged, and extreme. Read at Salon.
In the newest installment of my interview series with the brilliant and prolific, James Lee Burke, we discuss his new novel – an epic of the Civil War, the violence in American history, and the current assaults, from left and right, on literature. Read at CrimeReads.
I have a new story in the Progressive. It is an interview with Camilo Perez Bustillo, one of the leading experts on immigration and the southern border in the United States. Bustillo gives a fascinating account and analysis of migration patterns and US imperialism, what the Biden administration gets right and wrong on immigration, and how to formulate a reasonable and humane immigration policy. Read at the Progressive.
I have a new essay in CrimeReads about one of my favorite neo-noir films, The Hot Spot. What many people don’t realize is that The Hot Spot has one of the greatest soundtracks of all time. It features original jams from Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, and an all star supportive band, including Grammy-winning slide guitarist, Roy Rogers, whom I interviewed for the story.
I have a new essay at the Washington Monthly correcting ignorant and racist distortions of Latino voters by the mainstream media. I was pleased to talk to brilliant Latino activists and artists for this story. Read the story for the real truth about Latinos and politics.
I was thrilled to have another conversation with the legendary Warren Haynes. We discussed Gov’t Mule’s extraordinary new record, protest music, finding inner peace, and Pink Floyd. Read at Salon.
David Masciotra 