Confronting Capitalism: Who Counts as a Worker?

Confronting Capitalism: Who Counts as a Worker?

From Jacobin Radio by Jacobin

June 10, 2026 · 47 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the definition of the working class and its implications for socialist politics amidst a senate race in Maine.

In the midst of Graham Platner’s high-profile senate race in Maine, several media commentators jumped on whether he would fit within his own definition of the working class. Do we know how to pick out workers from other classes? And what bearing does this have for socialist politics? On the latest episode of Confronting Capitalism , Vivek Chibber and Melissa Naschek offer a full definition of who’s in the working class, how to understand the modern US class structure, and why workers are central to left political strategy. The latest issue of Catalyst is out, and you can subscribe for just $20 using the code CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM: https://catalyst-journal.com/subscribe/?code=CONFRONTINGCAPITALISM Have a question for us? Write to us by email: confronting.capitalism@jacobin.com Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber is produced by Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy and published by Jacobin. Music by Zonkey.

People in this episode

Host: Vivek Chibber

Guest: Melissa Naschek

Topics covered

  • working class
  • socialist politics
  • US class structure
  • senate race
  • political strategy

Keywords

  • working class
  • socialism
  • Graham Platner
  • class structure
  • political strategy
  • Catalyst
  • Jacobin

Sponsors

Catalyst

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy, Jacobin

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