Judah Grunstein, editor-in-chief of World Politics Review, talks to us from Paris and gives us a background briefing on the Yellow Vest protests in France. President Emmanuel Macron on Monday tried to put an end to the month long anti-government demonstrations by promising a raise in the minimum wage. Macron said he would cancel plans to tax pensions, and would also eliminate taxes on overtime and Christmas bonuses. Meanwhile the Yellow Vest demonstrations have spread to Belgium as workers protest austerity and neoliberal economic policies. Judah Grunstein provides context.