Question: If you are trying to to use jQuery, specifically in the React/Redux echosystem, what library should take it's place for simple rest calls? What are developers using instead of **$.getJSON** or **$.postJSON**.

Is there something commonly used that works like node's http module?

Answer: 
My favourite library for this is [axios](https://www.npmjs.com/package/axios). I find the api to be the clearest and it is very similar to the jQuery style. 

Although the fetch api is a huge improvement I don't like sending something to the server and calling it 'fetch'.

As usual with the JS ecosystem there are hundreds of options [xhr on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/browse/keyword/xhr) so I'd recommend picking one you like the look of or has been recommended by someone you trust. @Ben's recommendations look great.
You can use something like [isomorphic-fetch](https://www.npmjs.com/package/isomorphic-fetch) or [superagent](https://www.npmjs.com/package/superagent)