Category Archives: Politics
The U.S. Constitution
Americans love to argue and litigate about the Constitution. What it says and what it means can be very different things. The U.S. Constitution by Melissa Murray, NYU Professor and co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, will help you better understand the Constitution, its history and how it’s been interpreted. Continue reading
Separation of Church and Hate
I really wanted to like Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang. It’s much-needed takedown of Bible-thumping fundamentalists and Christian nationalists. Unfortunately, the book gets hopelessly tangled up in its own contradictions. I read only the first three chapters and set it aside. Let me tell you why. Continue reading
Endangerment Finding Revoked
On February 12, the Trump Administration revoked the 2009 “endangerment finding” that greenhouse gasses endanger human health and welfare. They claimed this was the “single greatest deregulatory action” in US history. I think it’s the greatest single payoff to the fossil fuel industry. No one should be surprised. Continue reading
This Is an Uprising
This Is an Uprising examines the history, structure and organization of nonviolent protest. The authors make the case that both structure-based organizations and momentum-driven movements are essential to achieving lasting change. Continue reading
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
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