Today's Liberal News

Our Towns: State Programs Are Laboratories for the Nation

My wife, Deb, has written about the concept of “Big Little Ideas.” These are modest-seeming, simple-and-practical steps that can have surprisingly large consequences.I am drawn to the parallel concept of “New Old Ideas.” These are themes from the American past that have new relevance for the United States of this moment and the years to come.Every nation has its leitmotifs: its tendencies and excesses and achievements, which run through its history.

The Atlantic Daily: 5 Stories to Fill You With Wonder

Every weekday evening, our editors guide you through the biggest stories of the day, help you discover new ideas, and surprise you with moments of delight. Subscribe to get this delivered to your inbox.This weekend, your brain may be craving a bit of adventure, whether it’s to marvel at something spectacular or feel like a part of something bigger.We’re taking a break from the news cycle to deliver you five stories that we hope awaken your childlike sense of wonder.1.

The Only Movie Watchlist You’ll Need This Summer

Hollywood has a crowded slate of films—delayed by the pandemic and otherwise—to release over the next three months. That makes choosing what to see more stressful than usual, especially when some titles can be seen both in theaters and at home. To make the process more manageable, I’ve scrutinized trailers and even screened some of the films below to put together this guide for all your needs, whatever they may be.

The West Can End the Water Wars Now

In my experience, out here in the West, people are, by and large, aggrieved. This is not entirely their fault. Federal and state governments have made lots of promises to people in the West, or to their parents or grandparents. Some people were promised that their land would not be taken, while other people were promised free land.

“The Second”: Carol Anderson on the Racist Roots of the Constitutional Right to Bear Arms

Do African Americans have Second Amendment rights? That’s the question Emory University professor Carol Anderson set out to answer in her new book, “The Second,” which looks at the constitutional right to bear arms and its uneven application throughout U.S. history. She says she was prompted to write the book after the 2016 police killing of Philando Castile, who was fatally shot during a traffic stop after he told the officer he had a legal firearm.

News Roundup: Manchin, and Pence, and DeSantis, oh my, along with continued attacks on Fauci

In the news today: Sen. Joe Manchin, the slowest learner in the Senate, seems to think Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has learned his lesson and there should be another vote on the Jan. 6 commission. Because unicorns. Former Vice President Mike Pence agrees that he and Donald Trump will never “see eye to eye” on that whole insurrectionist mob that wanted to hang him thing.

The right-wing indoctrination machine sets its sights on kindergarteners

Republicans are currently obsessed with young kids. I don’t mean in the Matt Gaetz way, I mean as far as attacking kids’ toys, books, and programs. The GOP recently and publicly lost it over Dr. Seuss books and Mr. Potato Head. Tucker Carlson claimed that the Sesame Street character Elmo teaches kids to hate America, and he’s not the only one who hates Big Bird.

Biden administration teams with six humanitarian groups to admit up to 250 asylum-seekers a day

As calls for immigration reform continue, the Biden administration has teamed up with six humanitarian groups to admit up to 250 asylum-seekers a day until July 31. According to NBC News, the groups have been tasked with recommending which migrants should be allowed to stay in the country, as opposed to being rapidly removed under the federal pandemic-related orders that blocked individuals from seeking asylum.

In fast-diversifying Texas city, Republicans are laying off ‘cancel culture’ to win mayor’s race

Tarrant County Democratic party Chair Deborah Peoples will face Mattie Parker, a former chief of staff to outgoing Mayor Betsy Price, in a runoff election on Saturday to be the next mayor of Texas’ fifth largest city. Peoples led Parker 34-31 in the first round of voting on May 1.

The race has attracted attention from some of the biggest names in Texas politics, as Peoples has picked up support from Democratic Reps.