The Americanization of Popular Culture Should Terrify Us All

Robert Scheer / Truthdig May 24, 2019 Hollywood's triumph in the global culture wars is worrisome at a time when conglomerates reign, French scholar Violaine Roussel argues. Dig deeper ( 29 Min. Read )

God Bless Cantankerous Old Men

Christopher Ketcham / Truthdig Aug 1, 2011 When Michael Jackson died a few years ago, my father, who is 72, called me to complain. “What the hell is this Max Jackoff business?” Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

‘Do It for Bieber’

Staff / Truthdig Sep 14, 2010 Here's a clever election-year trick: Get minors, who cannot vote, to hassle their parents, who can, to get to the polls this November. For optimal results, throw in the tween catnip that is Justin Bieber, who also cannot vote and is Canadian, and presto! Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

On the Government’s Growing Obsession With Hollywood-Style Command Centers

G.W. Schulz / Truthdig Aug 17, 2010 Blooming in every corner of the country are high-tech command facilities for fighting terrorism, battling crime linked to national security, coordinating disaster responses, enhancing infrastructure protection and more. The desire for them is insatiable, and Congress seems ever the enabler. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

The Gospel According to … the Boss?

Staff / Truthdig Jul 1, 2008 Unitarian Universalist minister Jeffrey Symynkywicz is quite the Bruce Springsteen enthusiast, apparently. The Boston fan has studied Bruce Springsteen's lyrics as though they were Scripture, and the end result is Symynkywicz's new book -- wait for it -- "The Gospel According to Bruce Springsteen." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

It’s a Wonderful Second Life

Staff / Truthdig Oct 13, 2006 Check out this mind-blowing story on Second Life, the simulated online world where people socialize, shop for actual products, attend legitimate university classes, even buy virtual real estate -- using real-world money. This head-spinning enmeshing of online/off-line interaction represents a new model for our Internet-addled society. It's like "The Matrix" (Version 0.1). Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The End of the Electoral College as We Know it?

Staff / Truthdig Jun 1, 2006 The California Assembly passed a measure to pledge the state's Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote (as opposed to giving its Electoral College votes to the winner of the California popular vote). This would come into effect only if enough other states passed similar measures. But if it happens, it will mean the end of the electoral college as we know it. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bernie Sanders’ Independent Revolution

Blair Golson / Truthdig Mar 22, 2006 In this March 2006 Truthdig Interview Bernie Sanders discusses his quest to become the junior senator from Vermont. Sanders, the U.S. House's sole Independent and only socialist, defeated his opponent Richard Tarrant in a landslide victory and is now Senator-elect. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

Sign Me Up for the Pentagon Democracy Plan

Molly Ivins / Truthdig Mar 21, 2006 I do like the idea of supporting democracy and think we should try it -- especially here in the US of A. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

34%

Staff / Truthdig Feb 28, 2006 In the last 30 years, only a Watergate-stained Nixon had a worse approval rating than Bush's current level of 34% Of course, CBS' polling methodology has its critics on the right. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

…but Gays Don’t Have To Play it Safe in ‘Warcraft’

Staff / Truthdig Feb 14, 2006 The maker of the insanely popular online game says it was wrong to threaten a user with expulsion for advertising a gay-friendly team. | story People take these online universes seriously; Warcraft has apparently seen its share of gay pride marches. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

KCRW’s ‘Left, Right & Center’

Staff / Truthdig Feb 5, 2006 Listen to Robert Scheer, along with Arianna Huffington, Matt Miller and Tony Blankley every week on KCRW's provocative, up-to-the-minute, alive and witty confrontation over politics, policy and popular culture. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )