Lack of Leadership Worsened the Pandemic, Not Young People
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, politicians from both parties are scapegoating youth—just as they’ve done before with crime and drugs.
Democracy
Young Black Voters May Be the Key to a Biden Victory—If They Vote For Him
Surveys show that, rather than reflexively voting Democratic, young Black voters are pessimistic any Democrat can make a difference.
Kamala Harris and the Legacy of Black Women Running for President
Shirley Chisholm and other Black women have set their eyes on the Oval Office for 50 years. Now it’s within reach.
Biden Still Needs to Earn Our Vote
Earning the vote of Black American voters requires acknowledgment of our issues and proposed solutions in front of every audience—not just those flooded with Black faces. Without it, Trump can win.
The Next Election Is About the Next 10,000 Years
Dramatic climate action is critical because we’re about to cross tipping points that are not reversible.
The Secret to Corporate Power
Campaign finance is part of the problem, but have you heard of the “capital strike”?
SCOTUS: Trump Is Not Above the Law
We still likely won’t see his tax returns before the election, but the rule of law scored a win today.
The SCOTUS Electoral College Decision Is a Vote for the Status Quo
Electors thought they could vote their consciences in 2016. The Supreme Court just said “no.”
History Shows That Sustained, Disruptive Protests Work
What drives change isn’t majority opinion. It’s the ability of key participants to disrupt the system.
Voting Is Now a Public Health Issue
Voting rights have always been inconsistently applied. Now the coronavirus pandemic is threatening those rights even more, and activists are pushing back.
Let’s Get to the Root of Racial Injustice
“What if we placed freedom from racist violence at the crux of what it means to be free and equal in the United States?”
How the Supreme Court Undermined the Black Vote
Black Americans braved police violence at Selma and galvanized support for the Voting Rights Act. Fifty years later, the Supreme Court’s Shelby decision ushered in a new era of racially targeted voter suppression.
Prolonged Uprising Is the New Normal
Along with community care, accountability, and the disruption of oppressive systems.
John Oliver Points to the White Supremacist Origins of Modern Policing
“This clearly isn’t about individual officers,” Oliver said. “It’s about a structure built on systemic racism that this country created intentionally, and now needs to be dismantled intentionally.”
War Is a Poor Metaphor for This Pandemic
We need a different way to name the type of partnership between people and their government.
“Think in Circles Rather Than Straight Lines”
A weeklyish commentary about climateish stuff, and how to keep it together in a world gone mad. This week, circle back to this email.
Or just get around to it right now!
Basic Education Is Now a Constitutional Right
Although each state's constitution contains a right to education, state courts interpret these rights in different ways—sometimes to the detriment of children.
In Response to the Coronavirus, Governors Are the Real Leaders
When the Trump Administration fails the test of guiding the nation during a crisis, local officials have picked up the reins of power—for better or for worse.
Why Some Countries Have Responded More Effectively to COVID-19 Than Others
Success during a pandemic depends on striking “a fine balance” between the powers of central governments and those at the state and local level.
Can Biden Bridge the Democratic Age Gap?
Young voters broke overwhelmingly for Bernie Sanders in the primary. Now Joe Biden has to earn their votes.
It’s Not as Simple as Rebellion
The ability to hold paradoxes is one of the key demands for climate leadership.
Gun Sales Are Up Across Appalachia. Here’s Why
Historically we know current events tend to effect gun sales—and this influx is coming from first-time firearm buyers.
Riding the Waves of Mutual Aid
Volunteer crisis responses are crucial in an emergency. But can they make lasting change?
A Chance to Cure America’s Preexisting Condition: Extreme Inequality
Our shared survival requires closing the gap forever, not just in an emergency moment.
How to Fund a Just Economic Recovery
The five principles of the "People's Bailout".
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