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Posted by Joshua Scheer
In this wide‑ranging post for The Socialist Program, economist Richard Wolff argues that the escalating ICE crackdowns and the creation of a new federal police force signal not strength but a presidency under mounting pressure. As Wolff sees it, the administration’s recent moves—from sudden populist gestures like capping credit‑card interest rates to the internationally condemned seizure of Venezuela’s president—reflect a leadership scrambling to hold together a fracturing political and economic coalition.
Wolff warns that the deployment of executive‑controlled police units in Minnesota marks a dangerous new phase, one that echoes historical patterns of authoritarian overreach and political scapegoating. He stresses that immigrants are being targeted not because of crime—rates among immigrants are lower than among native‑born Americans—but because fear remains a reliable political tool when other strategies falter.
The conversation ultimately turns toward the possibility of a needed general strike, which Wolff frames as both a logical response to escalating repression and a tactic with the potential to shift the balance of power. As he puts it, the ruling class has tolerated the administration’s excesses so long as the tax cuts keep flowing—but the rising social cost of ICE’s actions may soon force a reckoning.
Some highlights include
Desperation at the top: Wolff argues that recent policy swings—economic giveaways on one hand, aggressive foreign actions on the other—signal a presidency losing its grip on its own coalition.
Populist economic gestures: The proposed 10% cap on credit‑card interest rates is framed as a bid to win back disaffected voters while pressuring the business elite to tolerate concessions.
Foreign policy as political theater: The extraterritorial seizure of Venezuela’s president is described as a symbolic show of force that risks long‑term geopolitical blowback.
Oil politics and corporate backlash: Exxon’s public refusal to invest in Venezuela—and the administration’s retaliatory threats—illustrate fractures between the White House and major corporate actors.
A new federal police force: Wolff stresses the unprecedented nature of an executive‑controlled policing unit deployed domestically, bypassing the military, National Guard, and state authorities.
Historical parallels: The use of slogans associated with past authoritarian regimes is examined as both politically reckless and historically illiterate.
Immigrant scapegoating: Wolff reiterates that immigrant crime rates are lower than those of native‑born Americans, framing the crackdown as political misdirection rather than policy necessity.
ICE’s shifting public image: Once seen as an enforcement agency, ICE is increasingly viewed—according to Wolff—as an occupying force generating widespread backlash.
The general strike as leverage: Wolff highlights the UAW’s proposal for synchronized contract expirations in 2028 as a potential pathway to a nationwide strike capable of reshaping political power.
Elite tolerance reaching its limits: The business class supports the administration for tax cuts, but rising social instability may force them to reconsider the political costs.
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