Category Archives: Politics

A vaccine injury initiative, a contested hepatitis B trial, and edited CDC COVID-19 vaccine guidance

Posted on October 17, 2026 by Jim deMaine

The State of U.S. Vaccine Policy Thanks to our vaccine expert Ed Marcuse. This is a bit long but an excellent summary. Click here for the article on Substack.

Posted in Government, Health, Politics, Vaccines | 1 Comment

We Know How to Fix Homelessness. Look at Denver.

Posted on October 17, 2026 by Jim deMaine

by German Lopez in the NYT Homelessness, all appearances to the contrary, is a long-solved problem. We know both the causes and the cure. You wouldn’t think that’s the case from visiting many U.S. cities. Stymied by political and financial … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Homeless, Politics | Leave a comment

The War on Cartoonists

Posted on October 14, 2026 by Jim deMaine

From the Borowitz Report (Thanks to Pam Peterson) In January 2025, Ann Telnaes, the Pulitzer-winning cartoonist for the Washington Post, announced that she was quitting the paper where she’d worked since 2008. She did so after her editor killed her … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Government, Media, Politics, Satire | 1 Comment

Approaching the midterms…

Posted on October 14, 2026 by Jim deMaine

from the New York Times (thanks to Charlotte Lin) New York Times reporters have fanned out across the country, chronicling the highest-profile Senate contests that will decide who controls the chamber and the tiny municipal disputes about data centers. Five … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Politics | Leave a comment

A Blue Wave

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Jim deMaine

David Remnick, Editor, The New Yorker (thanks to Charlotte Lin) Signs of a midterm blue wave are everywhere, and yet it would be journalistic malpractice not to attach some nervous caveats to any prediction. Polls are sketchy. Campaigns have never … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Politics | Leave a comment

Heather Cox Richardson’s Commentary

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Jim deMaine

From historian Heather Cox’s Letter From An American Judging from his social media posts, Trump is panicking. Shortly after noon yesterday, he posted that it was “no longer the Strait of Hormuz” driving up gasoline prices, but Ukraine’s strikes on … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, History, Politics | Leave a comment

No Kings Throne Room

Posted on October 1, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Pat Bagley’s latest cartoon: https://apple.news/ArKsW6iL3S0yI4PNOCZpzWw

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Smoke Jumper turns politician and may help to flip the House

Posted on September 30, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Submitted by Ed Harrison

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Gloria Steinem

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pearl McElheran We’re all old enough to remember these women, aren’t we? Gloria Steinem (1934 – 2026)  Just a few years ago she said, “I hope I live to be 100.  There’s so much work to be done.”  … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, happiness, Health, Justice, Law, Mental Health, Politics, protests, Race, Social justice | Comments Off on Gloria Steinem

Getting to the bottom of our bizarre war with Canada

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Jim deMaine

By Danny Westneat Seattle Times columnist It won’t go down as one of the higher moments in foreign diplomacy. It did hint, though, at how low relations with our northern neighbors might go. At a news conference, Ontario provincial premier, Doug Ford, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Essays, Geography, Government, Kindness, Mental Health, Morality, Politics, protests, Satire, Shopping, Social justice, Traffic, Travel, War | Comments Off on Getting to the bottom of our bizarre war with Canada

Think about it! Words of Pete Buttigieg

Posted on August 24, 2026 by Jim deMaine

On August 17, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg recorded a video to assure those Americans who oppose the Trump administration that they are in the large majority. He noted that the strategy Republicans are pursuing shows how unpopular they are. … Continue reading →

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The White House Freak-Out Over Natalie Harp

Posted on August 20, 2026 by Jim deMaine

The West Wing’s explosive response to a fleeting jab didn’t kill the story. It enabled days of coverage. By Jonathan Lemire in The Atlantic. You are reading this story only because the White House didn’t want you to. I’ll explain. This past … Continue reading →

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Posted on August 9, 2026 by Mike Cory

Submitted by Mary Jane Francis

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The Four Living Presidents

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks to Mary Jane “MJ” Francis

Posted in Government, Politics, Voting | Comments Off on The Four Living Presidents

Frightening. Is this Munich 1933?

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks to John Roper Goebbels could not have said it better. “Fascism is the supreme expression of self-righteousness. It is the belief that one’s own group possesses a monopoly on virtue, and therefore has a holy duty to crush everyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Education, History, Politics | Comments Off on Frightening. Is this Munich 1933?

Seniors at the Crossroads Demonstration

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Judy Mayotte Join us for the next Seniors at the Crossroads**demonstration.  WHEN: Thursday, July 23 TIME:  4:30-5:30 p.m. WHERE:  8th and Madison intersection Our regular gatherings are on the second and fourth Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.  Mark your calendars. … Continue reading →

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‘Animal rescue mission was like a Terminator film’

Posted on July 11, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks to Pam Peterson Lewis AdamsEssex A former Royal Marine said the drone warfare he witnessed in eastern Ukraine was “like something out of a Terminator movie”. Paul “Pen” Farthing, from Dovercourt, Essex, rescued 194 animals from the front line … Continue reading →

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Life Support?

Posted on July 4, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks Pearle M It seems wrong to celebrate America when it’s on life support.  – New Yorker

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WA ‘millionaires tax’ lawmaker faces reelection challenge from the left

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks to Mike C By  Jim Brunner Seattle Times political reporter State Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen just finished steering the state’s new “millionaires tax” to passage, securing a seismic tax-policy shift long desired by progressives. You might think that … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Taxes, Voting | Comments Off on WA ‘millionaires tax’ lawmaker faces reelection challenge from the left

A New Democratic Voice

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson A wide range of Democratic voices are in the process of shaping new political language to move their party, and the country, forward. James Talarico is one of those new voices. On Friday, June 26, … Continue reading →

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If You Love America, Cringe for It

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Jim deMaine

By Bret Stephens Opinion Columnist in the NYT My father was fond of the Spanish expression “en los pequeños detalles se ve la persona” — the person is revealed in the small details. Last week, at the summit of the Group of 7 … Continue reading →

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Are Americans Too Old?

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Jim deMaine

In “Gerontocracy in America,” the historian Samuel Moyn argues that the central conflict of our era is between the young and the elderly.By Joshua Rothman in The New YorkerIllustration by Josie Norton The country you live in is changing. Month … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Sites, Politics, Retirement, Social justice, Voting | Comments Off on Are Americans Too Old?

Who’s Really Running Iran?

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Jim deMaine

In today’s NYT podcast, The Daily, there’s a fascinating discussion about the power dynamics in Iran shifting from a theocracy to a military dictatorship. The incentives in negotiations are now more transactional about power and money in a more pragmatic … Continue reading →

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Join us for LIVE coast-to-coast coverage of the United States standing up against Trump’s corruption—because America doesn’t bow to kings.

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P. This Saturday, March 28, we’re broadcasting live from No Kings protests across the country.Three streams. Reporters and contributors embedded at multiple sites. More on-the-ground coverage than you’ll find anywhere else!What’s happeningThe list of reasons why we … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, Media, Politics, protests | Comments Off on Join us for LIVE coast-to-coast coverage of the United States standing up against Trump’s corruption—because America doesn’t bow to kings.

Why Attack Iran? Our Authoritarianism and Our Corruption

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Jim deMaine

TIMOTHY SNYDER (thanks to Jim S.) Note: Timothy Snyder is an American Historian currently holds the inaugural chair in Modern European History at the Munk School of School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. From 2017 to 2025 … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Essays, Government, History, Justice, Law, Military, Politics, War | Comments Off on Why Attack Iran? Our Authoritarianism and Our Corruption