Dispatches From the Culture Wars — July 28, 2026

https://portside.org/2026-07-28/dispatches-culture-wars-july-28-2026
Portside Date:
Author:
Date of source:
Portside
  1. Black Organizers Lead the Fight for Voting Rights
  2. What’s New About the Data Center Movement
  3. AIPAC Electeds’ Cry of “Enough” is Too Much
  4. Incels and Male Loneliness
  5. Achtung, It’s Miller Time
  6. Breaking ICE
  7. Deep Doo Doo
  8. The Millionaire Exodus Myth
  9. Conspiracy Charges from Haymarket to Michigan 8
  10. Helping Workers Beat the Heat

 

Black Organizers Lead the Fight for Voting Rights

By Brandon Tensley, Capital B

The U.S. Supreme Court’s April 29 decision weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and opened the door for Republican lawmakers across the South to erase heavily Black districts. Into this rapidly changing environment have stepped advocates determined to keep the country from further chipping away at voting rights.

What’s New About the Data Center Movement

By Virginia Heffernan, The New Republic

A National Day of Action, a set of demonstrations against AI data centers, was announced not by the usual eco-activists but by the right-wing nonprofit Humans First. The protest day had 120 construction projects across 37 states in its sights, including one in Wasilla, Alaska, and 18 in Texas.

AIPAC Electeds’ Cry of “Enough” is Too Much

By Josh Nathan-Kazis, Jewish Currents

The US Jewish establishment is seizing on a frightening stabbing on Manhattan’s Upper West Side early Thursday afternoon as the pretense for a sweeping political attack on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the surging pro-Palestine left he represents. Jewish establishment groups summoned elected officials to a press conference, where Jewish leaders denounced Mamdani.

Incels and Male Loneliness

By Francesca Barca, Voxeurop

In order to address the issue of loneliness, we have to focus on the vulnerabilities and hardships of those who remain on the margins. Loneliness in general, and male loneliness in particular, is a social issue and a public health issue, but it has also become a political battleground. Explanations and solutions will not be found in anti-feminist narratives, nor in women’s choices.

Achtung, It’s Miller Time

By Sharon Zhang, Truthout

In a set of fascistic speeches, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House power broker Stephen Miller, and other top Trump administration officials labelled the political left as a “terrorist” threat and vowed to use all of the tools at their disposal to systematically destroy left-wing groups. The remarks called for a global offensive against people with left-wing beliefs.

Breaking ICE

Community Action Busts ICE Warehouses   By Brian Dolinar, Truthout

Maine’s Immigrant Defense Movement   By Sonali Kolhatkar, In These Times

ICE Out of Chicago Elections   By Alice Yin, yahoo! news

Deep Doo Doo

By Scott Pilutik, Slate

Given the state of epidemiology and data analysis, food poisoning probably shouldn’t be a monthlong mystery, and yet here we are. Improving food traceability in response to foodborne illnesses was unambiguously addressed by Congress 15 years ago, but the players to whom it would apply and obligate, Taylor Farms prominent among them, are squarely in the way of its implementation.

The Millionaire Exodus Myth

By Omar Ocampo and Aidan Rozema, Inequality.org

Hedge-fund manager Paul Krager ominously predicted that the Massachusetts Fair Share Amendment—a four percent surtax on incomes above $1,000,0000—could drive out CEOs, corporations, and wealthy residents. Yet here is almost no empirical evidence to back up this assertion. In fact, the available data suggests that the surtax has been a resounding success. 

Conspiracy Charges from Haymarket to Michigan 8

By Adi Saleem, Common Dreams

Conspiracy charges are among the most common charges brought against social movements precisely because they represent an extremely broad, far-reaching, and powerful tool of the state. You do not need to have taken any action, nor do you need to know the other alleged co-conspirators to be found guilty.
 

Helping Workers Beat the Heat

By Eleanor J. Bader, The Progressive

While the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to provide a “workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees,” the lack of specific heat protections leaves millions in danger of heat stroke, preterm births, dehydration, respiratory and cardiovascular complications, and renal failure. 


 


Source URL: https://portside.org/2026-07-28/dispatches-culture-wars-july-28-2026