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Category Archives: Government
ACLU at Town Hall
Thanks to Bob P. ACLU Town HallFighting Trump’s First Attacks Tuesday, February 4, at 4:30pm EST
Posted in Government, Politics
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Please express your support for HB 1531
Thanks to Ed M. Our public health partners are seeking our support on House Bill 1531 re preserving the ability of public officials to address communicable diseases, which will be heard 1/31 at 8:00AM in House Health Care and Wellness and … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Health
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Commentary on Day One
Ed note: Somehow the Trump cartoons don’t seem funny to me anymore. They reflect the negativity that is now reality and evoke sadness rather than humor. Historian Heather Cox Richardson helps me see the present in an historical context. As … Continue reading
Posted in Government, History
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In Praise of California
Paul Krugman in Krugman Wonks Out (thanks to Kate B.) One of the unwritten rules of American politics is that it’s OK to sneer at and smear our big cities and the people who live in them, while it’s an … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, environment, Government, Politics
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How Trump “Won”
Michael Podhorzer (thanks to Kate B.) With all the ballots counted and all the races decided, in today’s post, I want to unpack what we already know about how Trump “won” the popular vote.1 I use quotes around the word “won” … Continue reading
Posted in Government
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Two great presidents’ masterful inaugural speeches
By David Adler in the Seattle Times Special to The Idaho Statesman When Donald Trump assumes office Monday, as the 47th president of the United States, he will mark the solemn occasion with an inaugural address. While not required by the … Continue reading
Posted in Government, History
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An American tragedy: how Biden paved the way for Trump’s White House return
From The Guardian by David Smith – Thanks to Frank C. To admirers, Biden will remain one of the most consequential one-term presidents in US history – to detractors, he was undone by a fatal flaw His back straight, his … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Government, Uncategorized
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How Jimmy Carter’s love of music helped launch his presidential campaign
By Abi Inman (thanks to Pam P.) July 21, 1978: President Jimmy Carter greets Willie Nelson, left, after watching the star country and western music singer perform in a concert at the Merriweather Post Pavillion at Columbia, Md. Charles Tasnadi/Associated Press … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Music
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A note from Liz Cheney
Thanks to Mary Jane F. — From Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter 1/3/25 … Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, given to those “who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens,” to twenty Americans including former … Continue reading
Posted in Government
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Buckle up: Navigating the noise around routine vaccination
Katelyn Jetelina Thanks to Barb W. The arguments against routine vaccination are already escalating. Just last week, it was unearthed that a prominent lawyer on the RFK Jr. transition team questioned the safety of the polio vaccine, and the long-debunked measles-autism … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Government, Health
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The Honeymoon Won’t Last
by Adam Kinzinger in Substack It’s always a temptation to feel like the current state of facts or misery will continue unabated into the foreseeable future. This is a bias of our minds and souls; it’s difficult for us to … Continue reading
Posted in Government
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Boasting is Easy, Governing is Hard
By Joel Connelly in Post Alley (thanks to Mary M.) One of the best presidents America never had, Adlai Stevenson, put it bluntly when he said: “The ability to govern is the final test of politics, the acid, final test.” Stevenson … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Government, Law
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Important News Updates by Heather Cox Richardson
The sudden collapse of the Assad regime in Syria yesterday took oxygen away from the airing of President-elect Trump’s interview with Kristen Welker of NBC’S Meet the Press. The interview told us little that we didn’t already know, but it … Continue reading
Posted in Government
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Update on Syria
by Heather Cox Richardson Late last night, the White House said in a statement that “President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners.” Early this morning, the … Continue reading
Posted in Government, War
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MORE PAVING, FEWER TREES. SO MUCH FOR A GREEN ‘ONE SEATTLE’
Thanks to MaryLou P. – from the Seattle Times For Seattleites who appreciate trees, Mayor Bruce Harrell’s “One Seattle” comprehensive plan ought to spark grave concerns. The city’s proposed 20-year blueprint for growth contains major changes for residential neighborhoods, paving … Continue reading
Posted in environment, Government, In the Neighborhood, Law, Parks
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How Do You Like That Filibuster Now?
by Michele Cottle in the NYT As Republicans prepare to take control of both chambers of Congress and the presidency, Senator Joe Manchin, the conservative West Virginia Democrat turned independent, has a question for his former Democratic teammates: “How do … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Politics
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Global plastic talks collapse as oil states rebel
by Esme Stallard in BBC News (thanks to Mike C.) More than nine billion tonnes of plastic has been produced globally with less than 10% recycled Countries have failed to reach a landmark agreement on tackling plastic pollution after more … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, environment, Government
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The history of liberal democracy
by Heather Cox Richardson (thanks to Mary M.) Cas Mudde, a political scientist who specializes in extremism and democracy, observed yesterday on Bluesky that “the fight against the far right is secondary to the fight to strengthen liberal democracy.” That’s … Continue reading
Posted in Government
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Mr. Trump, Do You Realize How Much the World Has Changed Since You Were President?
Ed note: Friedman raised has legitimate concerns that an unfocused chaotic Whitehouse will not have the bandwidth to deal with, let alone understand, the major changes in Iran and Israel. Perhaps more importantly he won’t understand the coming explosion of … Continue reading
Posted in artificial intelligence, Essays, Government
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November 12th – a fateful day
by Heather Cox Richardson “It all began so beautifully,” Lady Bird remembered. “After a drizzle in the morning, the sun came out bright and beautiful. We were going into Dallas.” It was November 22, 1963, and President John F. Kennedy … Continue reading
Posted in end of life, Government, Race
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A note from Robert Reich
Thanks to Mike C. Friends, What do card sharks, magicians, pickpockets, and tyrants do to hide their tricks? They deflect your attention. “Look over here!” they say, as they create a commotion that preoccupies your mind while they bamboozle you. … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Government
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It Can Happen Here: Reckoning with Donald Trump’s 2024 Election Victory
Everyone who realizes with proper alarm that Trump’s reelection is a deeply dangerous moment in American life must think hard about where we are. By David Remnick in The New Yorker (thanks to Ed M.) On the morning after Donald … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Government
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Masterpiece Story: Statue of Liberty
Anastasia Manioudaki (thanks to Ann M. who notes I think the Lady must now be weeping. Please note her imagined damage (head knocked off) in the WW1 poster on display in our Art of the Month + her history below. … Continue reading
Posted in Government, History, War
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Against Panic: A Survival Kit
By Margaret Renkl in the NYT (Thanks to Ed M.) Ms. Renkl is a contributing Opinion writer who reports from Nashville on flora, fauna, politics and culture in the American South. I had an elaborate itinerary for Election Day that I … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Grief
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No, democracy isn’t dead
by Steve Iskeep in Substack My mailbox this week included a note with the subject line, “Democracy Without America.” The writer was sharing a link to an article with a slightly less stark headline, given its punctuation: “Democracy without America?” … Continue reading
Posted in Government
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