The Uneven Playing Field

The Uneven Playing Field:

Under unilateral disarmament, Trump stays, Conyers goes, Moore stays, Franken goes. Remember "when they go low, we go high?" Yep. So do I. via Pocket

How Do Politicians Get Away With Cutting Taxes for the Rich?

How Do Politicians Get Away With Cutting Taxes for the Rich?:

A substantial majority of Americans believe that rich people ought to pay more taxes. For example, consider public opinion about the "Buffett rule," named after its most prominent backer, the billionaire investor Warren Buffett. via Pocket

To Save the Internet We Must Own the Networks

To Save the Internet We Must Own the Networks:

In late October, Ajit Pai, Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, proudly announced, "We've been energetic in advancing the public interest…over the past nine months, the Commission has voted on 63 items at our monthly meetings, compared to 103 in the preceding three years. via Pocket

The Movement for Free College Tuition Is Growing

The Movement for Free College Tuition Is Growing:

In 2015, President Obama proposed making community college free nationwide. He pointed to a pilot free tuition program just being launched by Tennessee for recent high school graduates and might not have been aware of a free tuition program operating in Louisiana for almost two decades. via Pocket

We’re witnessing the wholesale looting of America

We're witnessing the wholesale looting of America:

Over the course of 2017, both in Congress and in the executive branch, we have watched the task of government devolve into the full-scale looting of America. via Pocket

Newsweek on Twitter

Newsweek on Twitter:

U.N. "shocked" at the level of poverty in rural Alabama. "It's very uncommon in the First World" http://bit.ly/2ycnWFl via Pocket

Our National Narratives Are Still Being Shaped by Lecherous, Powerful Men

Our National Narratives Are Still Being Shaped by Lecherous, Powerful Men:

And the stories keep on coming: about how political pundit Mark Halperin rubbed his erect penis against younger female colleagues (a claim he denies); how Artforum co-publisher Knight Landesman touched young female employees against their will and told one of them that she needed to be "more ope via Pocket

How Our Broken Justice System Led to a Sexual Harassment Crisis

How Our Broken Justice System Led to a Sexual Harassment Crisis:

Amid the latest wave of sexual harassment allegations, you might conclude, with some relief, that predators are finally being held accountable for long-repressed abuse. But while several men have lost their jobs, there's been little accountability in a legal sense. via Pocket

The Trump Presidency: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

The Trump Presidency: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):

One year after the presidential election, John Oliver discusses what we've learned so far and enlists our catheter cowboy to teach Donald Trump what he hasn't.Connect with Last Week Tonight online…Subscribe to the Last Week Tonight YouTube channel for more almost news as it almost happens: www.you via Pocket

Rigged: How Voter Suppression Threw Wisconsin to Trump

Rigged: How Voter Suppression Threw Wisconsin to Trump:

You can't say Andrea Anthony didn't try. A 37-year-old African American woman with an infectious smile, Anthony had voted in every major election since she was 18. via Pocket

America is facing an epistemic crisis

America is facing an epistemic crisis:

Over at the Gothamist, Jake Offenhartz has an astounding and richly symbolic story about the latest bit of "fake news" burped up by the alt-right. [Ugh, that link now goes to the "Gothamist is dead" page. Here's a Jesse Singal story about the incident.] via Pocket

The research is clear: Waiting periods can curb gun deaths

The research is clear: Waiting periods can curb gun deaths:

It's no secret this country is extraordinarily divided on the issue of gun rights, and common ground has been hard to come by. via Pocket

How test scores can block black students from the University of Minnesota

How test scores can block black students from the University of Minnesota:

The University of Minnesota is currently sponsoring an exhibit that examines the actions of university administrators from several decades ago. via Pocket

Trump Administration Puts on Hold an Obama-Era Desegregation Effort

Trump Administration Puts on Hold an Obama-Era Desegregation Effort:

The rule would have helped poor Americans move to more expensive neighborhoods with better schools. The zip code where a child grows up can have a huge effect on that kid's entire life. via Pocket

The Resegregation of Jefferson County

The Resegregation of Jefferson County:

In 2013, a flier began making the rounds in Gardendale, Ala., a suburb of Birmingham. via Pocket

Whites Have Huge Wealth Edge Over Blacks (but Don’t Know It)

Whites Have Huge Wealth Edge Over Blacks (but Don't Know It):

For every $100 earned by an average white family, how much do you think is earned by an average black family? Wrong. You're actually too pessimistic. Black families in America earn $57.30 for every $100 in white family income. via Pocket

The Only Problem in American Politics Is the Republican Party

The Only Problem in American Politics Is the Republican Party:

Political scientist Lee Drutman argues in a Vox essay that American politics is descending into what he calls "doom-loop partisanship. via Pocket

Our Broken Economy, in One Simple Chart

Our Broken Economy, in One Simple Chart:

The poor and middle class used to see the largest income growth. Note: Inflation-adjusted annual average growth using income after taxes, transfers and non-cash benefits. via Pocket

This miracle weed killer was supposed to save farms. Instead, it’s devastating them.

This miracle weed killer was supposed to save farms. Instead, it's devastating them.:

BLYTHEVILLE, ARK. — Clay Mayes slams on the brakes of his Chevy Silverado and jumps out with the engine running, yelling at a dogwood by the side of the dirt road as if it had said something insulting. Its leaves curl downward and in on themselves like tiny, broken umbrellas. via Pocket

City governments are raising standards for working people—and state legislators are lowering them back down

City governments are raising standards for working people—and state legislators are lowering them back down:

On August 28, 2017, low-wage workers in St. Louis, Missouri, became the latest victims of state preemption laws. "Preemption" in this context refers to a situation in which a state law is enacted to block a local ordinance from taking effect—or dismantle an existing ordinance. via Pocket

Comments | What if Steve Bannon Is Right? - NYTimes.com

Comments | What if Steve Bannon Is Right? - NYTimes.com:

via Pocket

Scott Pruitt Is Carrying Out His E.P.A. Agenda in Secret, Critics Say

Scott Pruitt Is Carrying Out His E.P.A. Agenda in Secret, Critics Say:

WASHINGTON — When career employees of the Environmental Protection Agency are summoned to a meeting with the agency's administrator, Scott Pruitt, at agency headquarters, they no longer can count on easy access to the floor via Pocket

Wall Street Profits by Putting Investors in the Slow Lane

Wall Street Profits by Putting Investors in the Slow Lane:

Wall Street has developed a new way, clouded in obscurity, to fleece the hundreds of millions of Americans who have money invested in company pension plans, mutual funds and insurance policies. via Pocket

The GOP’s Attack on Voting Rights Was the Most Under-Covered Story of 2016

The GOP's Attack on Voting Rights Was the Most Under-Covered Story of 2016:

There were 25 debates during the presidential primaries and general election and not a single question about the attack on voting rights, even though this was the first presidential election in 50 years without the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. via Pocket

How to Make Fun of Nazis

How to Make Fun of Nazis:

For decades, Wunsiedel, a German town near the Czech border, has struggled with a parade of unwanted visitors. It is the birthplace of one of Adolf Hitler's deputies, a man named Rudolf Hess. And every year, to residents' chagrin, neo-Nazis marched to his grave site there. via Pocket

A New Kind of Classroom: No Grades, No Failing, No Hurry

A New Kind of Classroom: No Grades, No Failing, No Hurry:

Few middle schoolers are as clued in to their mathematical strengths and weakness as Moheeb Kaied. Now a seventh grader at Brooklyn's Middle School 442, he can easily rattle off his computational profile. via Pocket

How to Take Down Kim Jong Un

How to Take Down Kim Jong Un:

At my Senate confirmation hearing a few years ago, I made a promise to the panel deciding my fate: never to use the phrase "there are no good options. via Pocket

The Return of Monopoly

The Return of Monopoly:

On July 15, 2015, Amazon marked the twentieth anniversary of its founding with a "global shopping event" called Prime Day. via Pocket

The Short, Unhappy Life of a Libertarian Paradise

The Short, Unhappy Life of a Libertarian Paradise:

Colorado Springs has always leaned hard on its reputation for natural beauty. via Pocket

Is It Time to Break Up Google?

Is It Time to Break Up Google?:

In just 10 years, the world's five largest companies by market capitalization have all changed, save for one: Microsoft. Exxon Mobil, General Electric, Citigroup and Shell Oil are out and Apple, Alphabet (the parent company of Google), Amazon and Facebook have taken their place. via Pocket

Gerrymandering means Democrats are playing a rigged game — in Georgia and everywhere else

Gerrymandering means Democrats are playing a rigged game — in Georgia and everywhere else:

The Democratic Party is going all-in on Georgia. More than $8 million in outside donations and 7,000 volunteers have come to the aid of Democrat Jon Ossoff, who is hoping to clear the 50 percent mark during Tuesday's special election in the Atlanta suburbs. Liberals see a lot riding on the race. via Pocket

‘Pivotal Moment’ for Democrats? Gerrymandering Heads to Supreme Court

'Pivotal Moment' for Democrats? Gerrymandering Heads to Supreme Court:

The hand-to-hand political combat in House elections on Tuesday in Georgia and last week in Kansas had the feel of the first rounds of an epic battle next year for control of the House of Representatives and the direction of national politics as the Trump presidency unfolds. via Pocket

Want to rescue rural America? Bust monopolies.

Want to rescue rural America? Bust monopolies.:

Since President Trump's election, much has been made of his rural, heartland voters, and how politicians can better serve them, with most discussion centering on international trade and globalization. via Pocket

How the Airlines Became Abusive Cartels

How the Airlines Became Abusive Cartels:

The recent United Airlines bumping debacle has prompted calls for reforms in the system of auctions that reward fliers for voluntarily giving up seats. Delta Airlines has now authorized payments as high as $9,950 to induce passengers to give up seats on overbooked flights. via Pocket

What Gorsuch Means

What Gorsuch Means:

A few minutes after Neil Gorsuch was nominated to the Supreme Court, former Obama Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal had an opinion piece in the New York Times. In it, Katyal argues that Democrats should confirm Gorsuch, who is "an extraordinary judge and man. via Pocket

I'm a Silicon Valley liberal, and I traveled across the country to interview 100 Trump supporters — here's what I learned

I'm a Silicon Valley liberal, and I traveled across the country to interview 100 Trump supporters — here's what I learned:

Sam Altman runs a prestigious Silicon Valley startup incubator, Y Combinator. He did not vote for Donald Trump. But he wanted to learn about how the rest of America thinks and feels. So he spent months traveling the country, interviewing Trump supporters. via Pocket

How the Anti-Vaxxers Are Winning

How the Anti-Vaxxers Are Winning:

HOUSTON — It's looking as if 2017 could become the year when the anti-vaccination movement gains ascendancy in the United States and we begin to see a reversal of several decades in steady public health gains. The first blow will be measles outbreaks in America. via Pocket

More women seek birth control to last as long as Trump's term

More women seek birth control to last as long as Trump's term:

ST. LOUIS – Angelica Thompson was working part time and earning her college degree in genetics when she got a serious boyfriend. Thompson sought care at the campus health clinic, where she chose a hormone implant under her skin that prevents pregnancy for up to three years. via Pocket