Doug Henwood

New York

Contributing Editor at The Nation

Journalist and Radio Host at Freelance

Host at Behind the News with Doug Henwood

Journalist/radio host. “Effete ‘sound money’ Marxist." “Risible footsoldier for the ownership class.” “Utter zero.” “Stalinist schoolyard bully!”

Articles

The Bill Comes Due for Trump’s Insanity

1 month ago | jacobin.com | Doug Henwood

For years, we’ve been hearing that the combination of childish governance and chronic budget deficits would eventually catch up with the United States, but the US always outran the worrywarts. That era, one in which the Treasury could borrow limitlessly and at low cost, may be ending. “For the first time in my professional life, we’re seeing a shift, with investors looking askance at Treasury debt,” John Velis, a money manager at BNY Mellon told Politico.
Adam Hilton: "El Partido Demócrata es una criatura muy extraña, lo mismo que todo el sistema político estadounidense"

Mar 31, 2025 | diario-red.com | Doug Henwood |Qassam Muaddi

Tras la desastrosa actuación de Joe Biden en el debate presidencial previo a las elecciones de 2024 y la subsiguiente lucha dentro del Partido Demócrata para removerlo de la candidatura presidencial, probablemente mucha gente se haya preguntado cómo es posible que un partido tan antiguo y poderoso sea al mismo tiempo tan disfuncional.
NYC murder count revisiting old lows

Mar 3, 2025 | lbo-news.com | Doug Henwood

Donald Trump and his loyal army of right-wing blowhards like to scream, as he did back in 2023, that “MURDERS & VIOLENT CRIME HIT UNIMAGINABLE RECORDS!” in New York City. Of course he had a particular interest in making that claim—he was being prosecuted by both state and city back then, and he thought false claims about violent crimes would me him look innocent and prosecutors look unfairly obsessed.
No, federal spending and employment are not “out of control”

Feb 16, 2025 | lbo-news.com | Doug Henwood

Among the leading fantasies of the moment are that federal employment and spending are “out of control,” so drastic action is needed to put things back in order. These are lies. Some people who utter these lies probably know better and some don’t, but they’re still lies. First, let’s look at federal expenditures and revenues as a percent of GDP.
More on union density: who and where

Jan 29, 2025 | lbo-news.com | Doug Henwood

A follow-up to yesterday’s post about historical trends in union density. Today, a look at demographics and geography. Once upon a time, the stereotypical union member was a factory worker. That hasn’t been the case for a long time. In 2024, manufacturing accounted for 10% employment and only 8% of union membership. In 1983, the numbers were very different: 22% of employment and 30% of union membership.
The Gaza ceasefire: an interview with Mouin Rabbani

Jan 28, 2025 | lbo-news.com | Doug Henwood |Mouin Rabbani

This is a lightly edited transcript of an interview that I did with Mouin Rabbani on the January 23, 2025, edition of Behind the News. Rabbani is a journalist and analyst with a deep understanding of the Middle East. He has served as Principal Political Affairs Officer with the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group.
Tariff follies

Jan 20, 2025 | lbo-news.com | Doug Henwood

Our new emperor has a well-advertised love of tariffs. They appeal to his grandiosity, as dramatic imperial gestures that will bring the world to heel at no cost to Americans, given his stubborn delusion that foreigners, not consumers, pay the duties.
Liberals’ Favorite Election Story Is Wrong

Nov 17, 2024 | znetwork.org | Doug Henwood

If you listen to some liberals — I’m too discreet to name names, but you might know whom I have in mind — Donald Trump’s election was the reflection of a resurgent hegemony of white patriarchy. These arguments are typically made without any supporting evidence, because there isn’t much of that. Here’s some complicating data drawn from exit polls. First, the swing between 2020 and 2024.
Liberals’ Favorite Election Story Is Wrong

Nov 16, 2024 | jacobin.com | Doug Henwood

If you listen to some liberals — I’m too discreet to name names, but you might know whom I have in mind — Donald Trump’s election was the reflection of a resurgent hegemony of white patriarchy. These arguments are typically made without any supporting evidence, because there isn’t much of that. Here’s some complicating data drawn from exit polls. First, the swing between 2020 and 2024.
Yet another parsing of the vote

Nov 15, 2024 | lbo-news.com | Doug Henwood

If you listen to some liberals—I’m too discreet to name names, but you might know whom I have in mind—Trump’s election was the reflection of a resurgent hegemony of white patriarchy. These arguments are typically made without any supporting evidence, because there isn’t much of that. Here’s some complicating data drawn from exit polls (sources: 2016, 2020, 2024). First, the swing between 2020 and 2024.