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Portside aims to provide material of interest to people on the left that will help them to interpret the world and to change it.

Friday Nite Videos | June 26, 2026

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"How to Think About AI" | Cory Doctorow. Do You Ever Get the Feeling You're Being Watched? Jon Batiste | Gospel Andante. Tesla Launches New Model of Explosions. How Are Memories Stored Inside Your Brain?

A Complicated Time To Be a Young Scientist

Deborah Blum Scientific American
There’s a strong consensus among historians that Nixon’s concept of an imperial presidency bringing scientists to heel foreshadowed Trump’s approach and that of his administration. “There are many eerie similarities.”

Alan Greenspan: Homewrecker

Peter Dreier Portside
Alan Greenspan was the Henry Kissinger of economic policy. Both men caused enormous harm and suffering for which they were never held accountable. The biggest influence on Greenspan was Ayn Rand.

The Cloud, Platforms, and Search Engines Are Public-Interest Institutions

Cecilia Rikap interviewed by Kirsten Van Gestel and Klara Ledroit transform! europe
Big Tech has amassed extraordinary power and now exerts control over the entire economy. Europe can no longer afford to remain captive to Big Tech networks. The solution lies in building an alternative digital ecosystem.

Colombia Joins the Far-Right Wave

Lara Loaiza NACLA
With De la Espriella’s victory, Colombia now appears poised to join the mano dura trend represented by countries like El Salvador and Ecuador. Yet the result demonstrates that the Colombian left’s vision of society is far from a minority position.

The Machine Breaks Down in New York

Whitney Curry Wimbish and David Dayen The American Prospect
DSA’s and Mayor Mamdani’s candidates rocked establishment incumbents backed by unions and political bigwigs. In most cases it wasn’t even close. You don’t always win, but when you do? “People carry that with them for the rest of their lives.”
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