Israeli army continues invasion of Lebanon

France24, 5/30–Lebanon’s prime minister accused Israel on Saturday of pursuing a “scorched-earth policy” in his country’s south, urging a halt to the fighting as Israel carried out fresh air strikes and issued evacuation warnings for more than a dozen locations. A day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces had advanced deeper into Lebanon, his counterpart Nawaf Salam warned the country was facing a “dangerous” escalation, and called for “a swift and real ceasefire”. In a televised address, Salam accused Israel of “pursuing a scorched-earth policy and collective punishment” by “destroying towns and villages, and forcing their inhabitants into exile”...The Lebanese health ministry says that Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,371 people since March 2…

Inflation hitting U.S. workers hard as wars continue

Surveys of Consumers, University of Michigan, 5/22—The cost of living continues to be a first-order concern, with 57% of consumers spontaneously mentioning that high prices were eroding their personal finances, up from 50% last month. Lower-income consumers and those without college degrees posted particularly strong sentiment declines; these groups are more sensitive to increases in the cost of gas and other essentials…Year-ahead inflation expectations inched up from 4.7% last month to 4.8% this month. The current reading substantially exceeds the 3.4% reading seen in February 2026 prior to the start of the Iran conflict.

Young U.S. workers struggling through hard economic times

The Guardian, 5/30–Young people are already facing the worst entry-level job market since the start of the pandemic and significant economic instability. But overall economic conditions are making it more challenging for those just entering adulthood. More than eight in 10 young adults rate the economy as “bad” or “terrible”, according to a recent survey conducted with more than 1,000 18- to 34-year-olds around the US by Generation Lab, a research firm studying young people. While young adulthood is known as a time for establishing independence and responsibility, many are attempting to do so amid cuts to social safety net programs and the ever-increasing costs of basic needs like gas and groceries.

Protesters fight ICE rats and now NJ and Newark kkkops

NJ.com, 5/30–Protesters clashed with the New Jersey State Police outside a federal immigration detention center again Saturday night, pushing against barriers and shouting at troopers, who sprayed gas while responding in riot gear. Tensions had been high outside Delaney Hall in Newark all day as both anti-ICE and pro-ICE groups gathered in designated areas. The crowd swelled to more than 200 people by 9 p.m., hours after New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill urged protesters to “bring the temperature down”...The latest conflict comes as detainees are on a hunger strike inside the privately run detention center…Detainees decry what they describe as inhumane conditions inside the facility, including poor food quality and a lack of medical care.

Australian bosses can only afford hand-me-down subs

MSN, 5/30–Australia will only receive used nuclear-powered submarines from the US as part of an agreement to “streamline” the AUKUS deal, with the move branded on Sunday as a “cost-effective” measure by Defense Minister Richard Marles…Under the 2021 AUKUS deal, Australia is expected to receive at least three so-called “Virginia-class” nuclear-powered submarines from the US within 15 years…The US Navy has 24 Virginia-class vessels, but American shipyards are struggling to meet production targets set at two new boats each year.In the US, critics have questioned why Washington would sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia without stocking its own military first.

Japan bosses disavow pacifism with China in mind

Al Jazeera, 5/31–Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has dismissed claims that Tokyo is pursuing “new militarism” and accused China of rapidly expanding its military with limited transparency…“Think about it. There’s a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers…” Ties between Japan and China sank to ⁠their worst level in years after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned in November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a Japanese military response…Last month, Takaichi’s cabinet scrapped a ban on lethal weapons exports, a major change in its post-war pacifist policy.

When U.S. Racist-in-Chief Donald Trump and China’s capitalist king Xi Jinping convened for a summit, they reflected the growing competition between a decaying U.S. empire and a rising Chinese empire—a rivalry increasingly pushing the world towards world war. Only the working class can turn this kill-line setup into a winning position. For that, we need a communist revolution, a world without exploitation, profit, and borders. Join Progressive Labor Party (PLP) to turn this aspiration into a reality for future generations. 

A struggle to the death

China’s rise to a superpower status has been at least twenty-five years in the making. The Belt and Road, including the digital silk road, was an imperialist strategy to connect 150 countries and 32 international organizations across Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America under China’s economic prowess (Bloomberg, 12/20/25). Xi has made clear that China intends to become a world-leading power economically, technologically, militarily, and politically (NY Times, 5/14). China was one of Trump’s targets for his “tariff regime,” and China, in retaliation, had cut off rare earths and magnets. U.S. imperialist bosses’ mouthpiece The New York Times captured the panic: “how do you deal with a country that’s trying to displace you as the world’s number one power?” It is no secret that the two imperialists have “fundamental divides” in a “battle of dominance” that “looks like a death struggle” (The Daily, 5/14).

Much of the U.S. panic stems from the realization that not only is the U.S.  facing a true rival vying for world domination, but also that the U.S. ruling class itself is fractured and divided, rendering it weaker against enemies. This is increasingly visible: a Chinese think tank’s report titled “Thank Trump” declared the president an “accelerator of American political decay” and attributed China’s growth to U.S. volatility (NY Times, 5/12).  

Trump’s transactionalist and short-term-profit mindset has undermined and further hastened U.S. decline. Clouded by inflation and war with Iran, Trump arrived at the table weakened (Washington Post, 5/16). His sycophantic attempt to stroke Xi’s ego and insist on “friendship” paled in comparison to Xi’s cold confidence. The actual “friendship” is between Russia and China, as both share an opposition to U.S. world domination. 

While Trump did not cause the U.S. empire to decline—that’s a trend since the 1970s—he sure has intensified it. Trump’s attacks on the very institutions that historically propped up the U.S.-led international world order has alienated allies and severely damaged credibility. European bosses increasingly discussed “strategic autonomy” and began preparing for a world where the U.S. could no longer be relied on as a stable empire. For its closest allies in Europe, “it’s clear that dependence on the United States comes at an impossibly high cost.” Instead of “waiting for rescue,” they are constructing a parallel trading system of  own” (Foreign Affairs, 5/15). In other words, even longtime allies are preparing for the demise of the U.S world order.

Taiwan, a linchpin of rivalry

Besides allies in Europe, another anxiety of the U.S. empire is Taiwan. “The biggest risk of this week’s summit is that Mr. Trump will trade short-term American gains, such as the exporting of more soybeans and other agricultural goods, for long-term Chinese advantages” (NY Times, 5/13). Xi warned that “could enter an ‘extremely dangerous place’ if President Trump sought to impede China as it asserted itself over Taiwan” (The Guardian, 5/14). As the first island chain, Taiwan is a strategic anchor in the South China Sea. The Taiwan Strait links the Northeast Asian economies to the rest of the world, accounting for one-fifth of the world’s maritime trade (CSIS, 6/17/25). More importantly, whoever controls Taiwan can more easily project their imperialist ambitions into the Pacific. So of course, Trump’s unpredictable remarks spread fear of “upending Washington’s longstanding support to Taiwan.” Trump represents the faction of the domestic-oriented U.S. ruling class that is unwilling to sacrifice for world war. He openly called the $25 billion of weapon sales to Taiwan as a “negotiating chip” with China, warned against Taiwanese independence, and that he is “not looking” to “travel 9,500 miles to fight a war’ in Taiwan’s defense” (The Guardian, 5/18). Here is precisely the problem for the U.S. imperialist bosses whose interest lies in world supremacy. They need a population that would be willing to go to war, which is far from reality at the moment.

Like a wounded and cornered beast lashing out, a desperate and more erratic U.S. is a danger to all. While bosses use their state power to delay or negotiate, competition, not collaboration, is primary. When competition is the fundamental basis of society, war is the final tool bosses use to decide on winners and losers. The years leading up to the past two world wars were marked by similar crises: arms buildups, economic instability, nationalism, and intensifying rivalries. Make no mistake—bosses will stab each other in the back before they surrender power. And they will sacrifice workers’ lives without hesitation. None of these bosses represent our interests; only working class power can do that.

Workers at the kill line?

In gaming, the kill line is the marking point where a player’s conditions are so poor, they can be killed in one shot. Capitalist China’s propaganda popularized “the kill line” to refer to the devastation of the working class in the U.S. This sickening inequality is not an American exceptionalism, but rather a global crisis of capitalism. China’s growth is “half what it once was. Youth unemployment is high” (NY Times, 1/13). Teetering at the precipice of ruin feels like the reality of tens of millions around the world. 
While the bosses treat it like a game, we workers and youth pay for their rivalry with our blood and labor. Whether it’s the costs of oil and electricity or beans and beef, we are the ones forced to pay for imperialist failures.

Since capitalism drives the world towards crises, then workers need an alternative rooted in its opposite. In this era of compounding catastrophes, we have two choices: cower before fascism or find your courage to fight for communism. In Progressive Labor Party, we believe ordinary people have the capacity to change the course of history through seemingly small actions. Together, we can build for communist revolution to the max! See transit workers on strike? Send solidarity! See your neighbor struggling? Build community! Hear racist propaganda? Spread CHALLENGE! Whatever you do to fight back, don’t fight alone—build it with PLP!

Bogotá, Colombia, May 1st — In Bogota, International Working Class Day — was commemorated with strong participation from workers across many sectors: union members, peasants, women’s organizations, community groups, folkloric and sports groups, students, the unemployed, and the opportunist political groupings of the so-called “left.”

Planning for May Day

Over the course of two months, we organized planning meetings to coordinate our participation in the march. We formed four collectives responsible for logistics and outreach — inviting more people, preparing our flags and banners, and developing the slogans for our Progressive Labor Party (PLP) contingent. Our contingent was composed of 63 people, including 24 working women, students, supporters, family members, and readers of our press — all part of our social base, each at a different level of commitment to our Party. 

PLP brings true workers’ energy

From early in the morning, we were present, energetically waving our flags and chanting communist slogans, marking our political difference — our revolutionary line — at a communist holiday that has increasingly been reduced to an electoral spectacle: reformist, manipulated by opportunists who turn it into a carnival of whistles, nationalist pageantry, and support for the candidates of the fake left. In sharp contrast, the PLP chanted with enthusiasm and conviction: “The history of the workers’ struggle is not found at the ballot box! Those who put their faith  in elections will reap only disappointment!”

Our multiracial collective raised revolutionary chants denouncing the imperialist genocide, 
the crisis, and the ideology of capitalism, putting communism forward as the only solution — including: “Against fascist deportations  unity and communist struggle! 

We also spoke with many workers who still place their faith in democratic change, challenging them to see that the capitalists’ rotating puppets seek only to enrich themselves at the expense of our class — which is why we chanted: “Against deadly capitalism — a communist workers’ state!” and No more reformism — long live communism!  “Peace is a tool of the state while they murder the proletariat! and peace between classes serves criminal bosses!” 

We moved through the march waving our red flags and chanting slogans that drew curiosity and admiration for their revolutionary content — including: Fight against racism, sexism, and wage slavery scourge the international working class! We distributed one thousand leaflets carrying our Party’s communist line, and sold more than 80 copies of our newspaper  CHALLENGE-DESAFIO.  

People came up to be photographed alongside our banner and flags, and to receive our literature. Upon reaching Plaza de Bolívar, we made contact with several sympathizers whom we will follow up with to continue advancing politically.

Post May Day

In the afternoon, 29 of us held a lively evaluation meeting, assessing our participation in the march, analyzing the electoral conjuncture, and mapping out next steps. We concluded that we must deepen ideological debate — building on our strengths, correcting our weaknesses, and continuing the struggle and organizing work. We reaffirmed our commitment to winning more of these workers and supporters to the unity of our class: organizing CHALLENGE reading circles, raising the potential of our base, and transforming these peaceful marches into combative struggles for communist ideas.

Newark, May 1—On May Day, the Cosecha Movement — a national organization fighting for the protection and dignity of 11 million undocumented workers — mobilized 200 families in a 1.5-mile march against ICE’s racist terror. The march was more than a protest. It was a call for immigrant workers to organize and resist fascist deportations in our communities.

Comrades from the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) provided communist solidarity, hammering home the necessity of antiracist, multiracial unity. 

We encouraged an analysis of how the assault on immigrants flows directly from the needs of capitalism and imperialist war. We immersed ourselves with many others in preparing and leading chants. We opened our homes for banner-making, secured donations for a communal meal at the end of the march, and shared our megaphones to amplify the voices of our working class immigrant sisters and brothers. 

Only the lifelong deep bonding of communists with workers trying to organize workers to create fightback will create genuine political struggle. This is the only way to win millions to understand why smashing capitalism is necessary,and why the fight for workers’ power everywhere - communism - is the only solution.

The masses fire up  the masses

The march rang with the testimonies of women and children who endure the sharp edge of U.S. state terror. Their words serve as a manual for class war against capitalism:

A young boy whose father was kidnapped by ICE asked: “Why are there so many cops here? They are not on our side. Most side with ICE.”

A cleaning worker and mother thundered: “We believe in the power of the masses—the collective power that smashes walls and tears down racist chains of exploitation. This system divides us because it knows that united, we are powerful. We transform our fear into fightback, empathy, and mass strength. Let borders crumble and the oppressive capitalist system fall!”

A wife of a worker snatched by ICE in Avenel, NJ shared the trauma of state-sponsored kidnapping: “My husband was freed through organizing, but many of his coworkers were deported for the ‘crime’ of surviving. I saw children left alone, crying at night because ICE stole their parents. Chinga la migra!”

A mother of five and Cosecha volunteer exposed the electoral lie: “Politicians promise everything to get elected, but then favor only themselves. We cannot depend on them. These institutions exist to enrich the bosses through our kidnapped labor. We demand the abolition of ICE.”
A mother and factory worker living for 29 years in the U.S. reminded the crowd of the global nature of the struggle: “The oppression in our birth countries is the same oppression we find here in the U.S. I am a worker, and I am dignified. The fight of the workers has no racist borders.”

Embracing militancy and class consciousness

This year, workers embraced more militant chants that linked the police to ICE as “the same piece of garbage,” asserted that “the fight of the workers has no racist borders,” and condemned the system for calling workers illegal when “your laws are illegal.” Passersby responded with joy—honking, waving, and recording the defiance. Over 50 marchers and onlookers took copies of the revolutionary communist newspaper, CHALLENGE.

PLP comrades delivered a bilingual address, clarifying the limitations of “papers” within a dying system marching us to war. We warned that while citizenship provides immediate relief, the profit system constantly rolls back the rights of those with citizenship. We pointed to the experience of Black workers in the U.S., whose citizenship has never shielded them from anti-Black racism or poverty. As long as capitalism persists, workers—with or without papers—are condemned to cages and violence.

We invoked the legacy of Harriet Tubman: a Black working-class woman who didn’t stop at seeking “freedom papers” but conspired to destroy the entire system of exploitation. She built multiracial unity with fighters like John Brown to wage war on the ruling class. We urged the crowd to follow her lead: build class solidarity across every border and fight for the only step that matters—the abolition of capitalism.
Building a bright red future

While many workers responded enthusiastically to the call for multiracial unity, we also identified a need for deeper collective work. We noticed a difference between how workers who heard the speech in English responded more enthusiastically versus workers who heard it in Spanish.

Some immigrant workers still feel disconnected from the struggles of Black workers due to persistent anti-working-class ideas pushed by the bosses. Many immigrants coming around Cosecha feel disconnected from multiracial unity and from linking their struggle more strongly to that of Black workers in particular.

However, the tide is turning. Black, Latin, and white workers approached us to affirm the need to link these struggles and challenge capitalism as a whole. An immigrant friend from Cosecha who used to receive CHALLENGE in the mail even asked if he could provide his new address to receive it again. Most inspiringly, a young worker approached us long after the speeches ended, asking a vital question: “How can I get involved with the PLP?”

We leave this May Day more committed than ever. We do not just march.We  organize for the day the working class realizes its own power and sweeps the bosses, their borders, and their terror into the dustbin of history.