Robert Schentrup

I think it's best for everyone to understand that the unified class project of billionaires right now is to do to white collar workers what globalization and neoliberalism did to blue collar workers.

🚨 UAW REACHES TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH VOLKSWAGEN IN CHATTANOOGA, MARKING HISTORIC BREAKTHROUGH FOR SOUTHERN AUTOWORKERS 🚨 Autoworkers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant have won a historic tentative agreement with the company. After making history as the first Southern autoworkers outside the Big Three to join the UAW, the 3,200 workers at Volkswagen Chattanooga have won a tentative contract deal that provides 20 percent across-the-board wage increases, affordable health care, real job security, and more. After workers voted 3-to-1 to join the UAW in 2024, they elected a 20-member negotiating committee of their peers. After months of negotiations, the tentative deal marks a breakthrough for non-union autoworkers and manufacturing workers across the South. The tentative deal ensures that Volkswagen workers have a legally binding and enforceable agreement that guarantees fair pay, more affordable health care, safer working conditions, and clear protections against favoritism. “For years, Chattanooga workers were told to settle for less while Volkswagen made record profits. So, the workers stood together and won their union—and now they’ve secured a life-changing first agreement,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “This deal proves what happens when autoworkers stand up and demand their fair share. People said Southern autoworkers could never form a union or win a union contract. Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga said, ‘Watch this.’” For workers like bargaining committee co-chair Steve Cochran, a skilled trades worker and co-chair of the Bargaining Committee, the agreement represents a turning point. “A strong contract makes sure promises are delivered. Respect and security shouldn’t be up for negotiation—and now they won’t be.” The tentative agreement is especially significant given Volkswagen’s recent record-breaking profits. In 2024 alone, the world’s second-largest automaker reported $20.6 billion in profits—even as Chattanooga workers struggled under substandard health coverage and rising out-of-pocket costs. Key Wins in the Tentative Agreement: • Major Wage Increases – 20% GWI Substantial raises that begin to close the gap with industry standards and reflect Volkswagen’s record profits. • Improved High-Quality Health Care with No Increases Lower out-of-pocket costs, improved coverage, and protections that ensure no worker must choose between medical care and basic needs. • Big Bonuses Initial bonuses equaling $6,550 per worker upon ratification and additional annual bonuses of $2,550 for the life of the agreement. Thousands of dollars of additional compensation for each worker. • Job Security Protections Strong language against unilateral job cuts, shift reductions, and outsourcing—making sure VW keeps good union jobs in Chattanooga. • Stronger Health & Safety Standards Enforceable safety rules, dedicated union safety representatives, and a greater worker voice in identifying and fixing hazards on the job. • Paid Time Off & Scheduling Protections Guaranteed paid leave, fair scheduling requirements, and safeguards against forced overtime and favoritism. • Fair Discipline & Grievance Rights Clear, enforceable protections against unfair discipline and a transparent, worker-centered grievance process. • A Real Voice on the Job Rights that ensure workers have a say in day-to-day decisions that shape their work, their safety, and their future. This historic agreement reflects significant improvements over the company’s last proposal in October, including: • New product commitments • Enhanced right-to-strike protections • Key newly won Job Security agreements, including protections against outsourcing • Thousands of additional dollars of annual compensation per worker • Key Skilled Trades issues addressed •Stronger safeguards against plant closures or the sale of operations Workers will receive details of the tentative agreement in the coming days, followed by a ratification vote. “This contract is proof that if you stand up and stick together, you can win a better life,” said Kelcey Smith, a worker in the paint department. “No matter where you live, or where you work, autoworkers deserve a union contract, whether at the Big Three or Volkswagen, from Detroit to Chattanooga. Volkswagen workers are showing the whole country what’s possible.” The Chattanooga victory signals a profound shift in the Southern auto industry, as workers across the region stand up to global corporations, demand their fair share, and build a future where autoworkers—no matter where they live or what company they work for—have a collective voice and a seat at the table.

Chief Safety Officer at Waymo says the company employs remote vehicle operators in the Philippines. 🤯

CNN partners with Kalshi to integrate prediction markets into its global newsroom. The first major news network to embrace Kalshi prediction markets. A new era of media is here.

I grew up singing. I sang everywhere I went, I wrote songs in my diary, I told teachers that I wanted to be a singer & songwriter when I grew up. But wanting to be a musician in 2006 required resources that a low-income family didn't have. My parents couldn't afford to get me any instruments. They couldn't pay for music lessons. They couldn't get me into studios. A dream I had became just a memory, until now. I am beyond proud and honored to get to work at a company that is enabling music creation for everyone. For the 13 year old kid in their bedroom who dreams of being a musician, you can be one. For all of the professional artists, you can do more of what you love. I really wish Suno existed 20 years ago when I was a kid in elementary school, showing strangers songs I wrote with no way to produce them. But I'm really, really happy that it exists today, for all of the other kids who might need it. We are still just getting started :)

This is one of the most demented things Trump has posted

Fascinating to read Ezra Klein go full James Carville mode repeating “politics is a game and you play to win” against Coates saying, 12 different ways, “there is a real thing called oppression” and Klein’s takeaway is that he’s doing Dialogue. Brother you’re doing White

All that Charlie ever did was have conversations with people. He didn’t insult anyone. He made arguments. He debated. He wasn’t an extremist in any way. Everyone who knew Charlie personally loved him. That’s the kind of guy he was. And they still killed him. I am furious and heartbroken in equal measure. I cannot put into words how I feel. Maybe that is for the best.

We don’t have a gun problem. We have a Democrat problem.

Deeply disturbing rhetoric is spreading from influential MAGA figures (including the President of the United States and the owner of this website). They have no idea who the shooter is, and many of these same people mocked Democrats when they were victims of political violence in the past. In moments like this, we should be lowering the temperature and finding our shared humanity — not fueling more hatred and violence.

The Trump administration has shut down Direct File, which allowed users to file their taxes for free.

So we're the idiots, right?