Category Archives: Politics
An Evening with Timothy Snyder
I recently attended a public lecture in Seattle given by historian and author Timothy Snyder about his latest book On Freedom. Here’s my summary of his remarks. Continue reading
Blueprint for Revolution
Are you feeling overwhelmed by rising oppression and autocracy around the world? Whether you’re fighting a dictator or just trying to improve your neighborhood, Blueprint for Revolution is a worthwhile, helpful, even inspiring book. It teaches you how to organize and carry out nonviolent action to achieve political change. Continue reading
My Testimony at the EPA
The EPA is holding virtual public hearings this week on its proposal to rescind the 2009 finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. If they get away with it, this will gut most greenhouse gas regulations in the US. Here’s what I said to them. Continue reading
The EPA’s “Dagger to the Heart” of US Climate Regulation
On August 1, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced it was proposing to reconsider its 2009 endangerment finding about greenhouse gas emissions. “Reconsidering” here means rescind, revoke, roll back. In this post I look at why this action is a dagger to the heart of greenhouse gas regulation. Continue reading
Abundance
Ever since the November 2024 election, Democrats, liberals, progressives – whatever you want to call them – have been doing some deep soul searching, asking themselves, “How on Earth could we have lost to Donald Trump, again?” Abundance, by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, offers an inspiring framework for finding the answers. Continue reading
Trump’s Executive Orders Aim to Gut US Climate Policy
Trump signed a blizzard of executive orders (EOs) over the last week. Some are vicious and cruel (rolling back protections for transgender people), others are blatantly unconstitutional (ending birthright citizenship). In this post, I’ll take a look at the executive orders that affect US government policy on climate change. Continue reading
Unsolicited Post-Election Punditry
The 2024 US election ordeal is over. Now everyone wants to know what happened and why. Every major and minor pundit in the country is weighing in. So why shouldn’t I? After all I have an opinion and a keyboard and that’s all you need to be a pundit, right? Continue reading
On Freedom
Americans often think of freedom in the negative sense, as freedom from. Timothy Snyder argues that positive freedom, freedom to, is more important. On Freedom is a deep exploration of the nature of freedom that challenges conventional thinking. Very important and worthwhile in our era of freedom under threat. Continue reading
Vote No on Washington’s Initiative 2117
If you live in Washington State, there is something you can do this November to make a direct personal impact on climate change. Vote NO on Initiative 2117. I first saw the effects of climate change during a family vacation … Continue reading
Autocracy in America
I recently started listening to a new podcast called Autocracy in America that I want to recommend. It’s a five-part series that looks at authoritarian tactics already in use here in the United States. Continue reading
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