Jim Hightower

Columnist

Jim Hightower has been called America’s favorite populist. He’s been editor of The Texas Observer, president of the Texas Consumer Association, Texas Agriculture Commissioner, host of a radio show. Nowadays he broadcasts daily radio commentaries, publishes a monthly newsletter, The Hightower Lowdown (jimhightower.com) and makes more than 100 speeches a year. With groups like ACORN and Public Citizen he’s organizing the Rolling Thunder Chautauqua Tour, a series of political/cultural festivals around the country (rollingthundertour.org). He’ll be traveling through America talking to people engaged in grassroots work and new political movements for working people.

PoliticsApril 3, 2023

Reports of the Death of the “Texas Observer” Are Greatly Exaggerated

With support from readers, a legendary progressive publication lives to fight another day.

Jim Hightower
ActivismMarch 5, 2014

Time for a Populist Revival!

This old American democratic tradition already has deep support at the grassroots.

Jim Hightower
CorporationsMarch 6, 2008

How to Swim Against the Current

People are wriggling free of the fetters of corporate culture.

Jim Hightower and Susan DeMarco
Science and HealthAugust 24, 2006

One Thing to Do About Food: A Forum

How do we fix our dysfunctional relationship with food? Alice Waters leads a forum with Eric Schlosser, Marion Nestle, Peter Singer and others, who suggest, for starters, that we stop buying factory farm products, get involved in farm policy and outlaw the marketing of junk food to kids.

Jim Hightower , Eric Schlosser , Peter Singer , Eliot Coleman , Vandana Shiva , Carlo Petrini , Winona LaDuke , Elizabeth Ransom , Troy Duster , Wendell Berry , Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle
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PoliticsJuly 29, 2004

Bush Zones Go National

In the undeclared war against dissent, disagreement has become a crime.

Jim Hightower
PoliticsSeptember 3, 2003

Kleptocrat Nation

Look at America’s leadership today. Tell me you wouldn’t trade the whole mess of them for one good kindergarten teacher.

Jim Hightower
Political FiguresJanuary 9, 2003

Going Down the Road

During my days as Texas agriculture commissioner, a farmer pointed out to me that you can count the seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the apples in a seed.

Jim Hightower
InequalityDecember 5, 2002

Going Down the Road

On election morning, I opened the front section of the New York Times and immediately got a bad feeling. Positioned prominently on page A3 was an eye-catching and ominous ad.

Jim Hightower
Campaign FinanceNovember 7, 2002

Going Down the Road

How quickly the joy fades.

Jim Hightower
Labor OrganizingOctober 10, 2002

Going Down the Road

Out in the countryside is where you’ll find America’s true leaders–the gutsy, scrappy, sometimes scruffy and always ingenious grassroots agitators and organizers who go right into the face of

Jim Hightower

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Jim Hightower

Columnist

PoliticsApril 3, 2023

With support from readers, a legendary progressive publication lives to fight another day.

ActivismMarch 5, 2014

This old American democratic tradition already has deep support at the grassroots.

CorporationsMarch 6, 2008

People are wriggling free of the fetters of corporate culture.

Science and HealthAugust 24, 2006

How do we fix our dysfunctional relationship with food? Alice Waters leads a forum with Eric Schlosser, Marion Nestle, Peter Singer and others, who suggest, for starters, that we stop buying factory farm products, get involved in farm policy and outlaw the marketing of junk food to kids.

The stakes are higher now than ever. Get The Nation in your inbox.

PoliticsJuly 29, 2004

In the undeclared war against dissent, disagreement has become a crime.

PoliticsSeptember 3, 2003

Look at America’s leadership today. Tell me you wouldn’t trade the whole mess of them for one good kindergarten teacher.

Political FiguresJanuary 9, 2003

During my days as Texas agriculture commissioner, a farmer pointed out to me that you can count the seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the apples in a seed.

InequalityDecember 5, 2002

On election morning, I opened the front section of the New York Times and immediately got a bad feeling. Positioned prominently on page A3 was an eye-catching and ominous ad.

Campaign FinanceNovember 7, 2002

How quickly the joy fades.

Labor OrganizingOctober 10, 2002

Out in the countryside is where you’ll find America’s true leaders–the gutsy, scrappy, sometimes scruffy and always ingenious grassroots agitators and organizers who go right into the face of