The Comrade Courant

What Is a Tankie—and Why You Don’t Want to Be One On authoritarianism, anti-imperialism, and the betrayal of socialist principles In leftist discourse, few terms carry as much heat as “tankie.” It’s hurled in online arguments, whispered in organizing meetings, and increasingly invoked to describe a certain strain of pro-authoritarian “leftism” that defends dictators under the banner of anti-imperialism. But the term isn’t just internet slang. It has a precise historical origin—and a political meaning that every socialist should understand. “Maximum Tankie” by Red & Black Salamander (9mmballpoint.blogspot.com). Used under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. The Origin of the Term The word “tankie” emerged in 1956, when Soviet tanks rolled into Budapest to crush the Hungarian Revolution—a popular uprising of workers and students demanding democratic socialism. Members of the Communist Party of Great Britain who defended this violent suppression were derisively ...

The Facebook Duct Cleaning Scam Is a Karachi-Based Fraud Operation Fake “local” duct cleaners are flooding small-town Facebook groups—but digital forensics trace them to coordinated cells in Pakistan. This isn’t side-hustle entrepreneurship. It’s transnational fraud. If you’ve scrolled through a “Buy Nothing,” yard sale, or community group on Facebook recently, you’ve likely seen it: a post from “Jimena Zarco” or “Alex Dylan” offering “whole house duct cleaning” at a suspiciously low price, complete with a photo of someone holding black dust and a plea: “Your support is crucial!” Some of these posts used near-identical language, allowing us to fingerprint what appears to be a single, sloppy operator within the cell: “We’ve been proudly serving the community with air vents cleaning… Act now to enjoy a complementary service when booking for tomorrow. For more details, PM or text us. Email: freshairductcleaners1122@gmail.com” ...

OHISAMA’s Orbital Experiment: A Technical Milestone, Not a Climate Solution Japan’s OHISAMA satellite —expected to launch in 2025—will conduct the first end-to-end test of space-to-Earth wireless power transmission . But its true aim is lunar infrastructure , not climate salvation. Later this year, Japan is expected to launch OHISAMA —a compact, 180-kilogram satellite roughly the size of a household washing machine—in what would be the first verified demonstration of wireless solar power transmission from low Earth orbit to a ground station on Earth . Developed under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and executed by Japan Space Systems , the mission builds on decades of Japanese research into space-based solar power (SBSP), including JAXA ’s 2015 ground test that beamed 1.8 kW over 50 meters and Mitsubishi ’s 10 kW transmission over 500 meters. OHISAMA will deploy a 2-square-meter photovoltaic array to charge an onboard battery, then conver...

What Happens Now That a Government Shutdown Is Underway With Congress deadlocked over Medicaid cuts and health care subsidies, the federal government has shut down—furloughing hundreds of thousands of workers and disrupting critical services. WASHINGTON — The federal government has officially shut down after lawmakers failed to pass a funding bill by the midnight deadline. Republicans backed a short-term measure to keep agencies funded through November 21 at current levels, but Democrats blocked it, demanding action on health care: reversing Medicaid cuts from President Donald Trump’s summer tax and spending package and extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that help millions afford insurance. Republicans dismissed the Democratic proposal as fiscally reckless, estimating it would cost over $1 trillion. With neither side willing to budge, the shutdown began Wednesday. The U.S. Capitol at sunset, where funding negotiations colla...

Trump’s AI Playbook: Deepfakes, Conspiracy, and the Weaponization of Desperation From fabricated Obama arrests to phantom “medbeds,” Donald Trump has turned AI-generated disinformation into a tool of political warfare—and predatory grift. In an era where reality can be convincingly simulated with a few lines of code, Donald Trump has emerged as the most powerful practitioner of synthetic media as political strategy. His use of AI isn’t about innovation—it’s about narrative control. Whether sharing deepfakes of Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office or promoting fictional “miracle cure” devices like the so-called “medbed,” Trump leverages generative AI to dominate attention, stoke outrage, and exploit the very real vulnerabilities of a fractured society. A fake AI-generated clip of Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office as Donald Trump laughs. (Screenshot/Truth Social/AI) The Deepfake Surge: From Absurdity to Allega...

Solidarity in the Face of Hate: Manchester Attack a Symptom of a Failing System Why socialist solidarity, not empty rhetoric, is the true answer to antisemitic violence Published: October 3, 2025 | Category: Analysis & Commentary The violent attack on a synagogue in the heart of Manchester this past Friday has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving a nation grappling with a familiar and ugly spectre. As socialists, we condemn this act of antisemitic terror in the strongest possible terms. An attack on a house of worship, on people gathered in peace, is an attack on the very notion of community and solidarity we strive to build. According to reports from the scene, a 42-year-old man armed with a makeshift weapon stormed the synagogue during a service, stabbing a man in his seventies and a police officer who responded with immense bravery. The swift intervention of these officers undoubtedly prevented a greater tragedy. The assail...

Israeli attacks on Sumud Humanitarian flotilla sparks international outrage Israeli attacks on Sumud Humanitarian flotilla sparks international outrage Global Working Class Rallies in Solidarity—Italy Spain UK Erupt in Mass Protests and Strikes By The Comrade Courant October 2025 On the flotilla protest in London — Picture: Guy Smallman In a brazen act of maritime aggression, Israeli naval forces intercepted the unarmed humanitarian “Sumud” flotilla in international waters, violently boarding civilian vessels carrying medical supplies and food for besieged Gaza. The assault—condemned by legal experts as a violation of international law—has ignited a wave of militant solidarity across Europe, with Italy emerging as a new front of mass working-class resistance. ...

If the U.S. Government Shuts Down, What Might That Mean to You? If the U.S. Government Shuts Down, What Might That Mean to You ? A Working-Class Guide to the Fallout By The Comrade Courant October 2025 Political Economy When headlines scream “government shutdown,” it’s easy to dismiss it as political theater—another Washington squabble that doesn’t touch your daily life. But the truth is far more personal. A federal shutdown isn’t just about closed monuments or furloughed bureaucrats. It’s about your rent, your food, your child’s education, your health, and your dignity. And if you’re working class, you’ll feel the pain first, deepest, and longest. Your Paycheck at Risk If You Work for the Government—Directly or Indirectly Over 2 m...

10 Ways the Government Shutdown Hurts the Working Class 8 min read Oct 1, 2025 While politicians and the wealthy feel little pain, the capitalist state's failure to function once again makes workers pay the price. The federal government is going to shut down. For the ruling class and their media mouthpieces, this is a political spectacle. But for the working class, it is a sudden and severe crisis. This shutdown isn't an accident; it's a direct consequence of a political system that serves the wealthy and powerful while treating the needs of the people as a bargaining chip. The Comrade Courant breaks down the ten ways this manufactured disaster entrenches the suffering of the proletariat. 1. Paychecks Vanish for Millions of Federal Workers Roughly 800,000 federal employees are immediately furloughed during a government shutdown, while another 1.3 mi...