866OurVote is a national non-partisan election protection coalition working year round to ensure that voters have an equal opportunity to vote and have that vote count. We provide Americans from coast to coast with comprehensive information and assistance at all stages of voting – from registration to absentee and early voting, to casting a vote at the polls, to overcoming obstacles to their participation. Our volunteers provide voter information, document problems they encounter when voting and work with partners and volunteers on the ground to identify and remove barriers to voting.
ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge’s mission is to foster civic culture and institutionalize democratic engagement activities and programs at colleges and universities, making them a defining feature of campus life. By recognizing colleges and universities for their commitment to increasing student voting rates, through its national awards program, ALL IN encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, make democratic participation a core value on their campus, and cultivate generations of engaged citizens who are essential to a healthy democracy.
Anti-Defamation League is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is a global leader in exposing extremism and delivering anti-bias education, and is a leading organization in training law enforcement. ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate.
The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve our systems of democracy and justice. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving Constitutional protection in the fight against terrorism.
The California Center for Civic Participation is a non-partisan, non-profit civic education organization, engaging high school students by sparking their interest with exposure to real excitement of the democratic process. We believe that youth hold so much untapped and unlimited power to change their communities and their world and we exist to expose and nurture that power.
Learn more about the California Center for Civic Participation and volunteer opportunities.
The Center’s mission is to promote an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy. The Center has reached more than 30 million students and their teachers since 1965.
The Center for Civic Education helps students develop (1) an increased understanding of the institutions of constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are founded, (2) the skills necessary to participate as competent and responsible citizens, and (3) the willingness to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict.
The Center for Common Ground empowers under-represented voters through non-partisan voter registration and Get Out the Vote. It provide voter information through door knock canvassing, texting, phone-banking. It also provide free rides to the polls on Election Day.
Learn more about the Center for Common Ground and volunteer opportunities.
Center for Election Innovation & Research engages in cutting-edge work to build voter trust, increase voter participation, and improve the efficiency of election administration. Their work helps elections officials maintain accurate and complete voter lists and secure election technology infrastructure.
Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to ensure open, honest, and accountable government; to promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and to empower all people to make their voices heard as equals in the political process. Common cause works across four major issue areas: voting and elections; money and politics; ethics, transparency and government accountability; and media and democracy.
Learn more about Common Cause and the Common Cause Education Fund.
Democracy North Carolina is a nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to strengthen democratic structures, build power among disenfranchised communities, and inspire confidence in a transformed political process that works for all.
ElectionDay.Org engages businesses to provide resources and tools to promote voting within their organizations including information on how to register, voting methods, and relevant deadlines.
Equal Justice Works creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. Equal Justice Works is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and is the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law. Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, legal services organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice. The organization believes that a community of lawyers committed to public service can fulfill our nation’s promise of equal justice for all. Following their Fellowships, more than 85% of Equal Justice Works Fellows remain in public service positions, continuing to pursue equal justice for underserved communities.
Learn more about Equal Justice Works and available volunteer opportunities.
The Election Official Legal Defense Network (EOLDN) is a project of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research. EOLDN connects licensed, qualified, pro bono attorneys with election administrators who need advice or assistance. Election workers from all over the country, at the state and local level, can contact EOLDN via this website or by phone (1-877-313-5210) at any time, to request to be connected to a lawyer who can help them, at no cost. This service is available regardless of the election official’s political affiliation, or whether they work in a blue or red state or county.
Learn more about Election Official Legal Defense Network and available volunteer opportunities.
FairVote is a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. They research and advance voting reforms that make democracy more functional and representative for every American. FairVote has a proven record since 1992 as a nonpartisan trailblazer that advances and wins electoral reforms at the local, state and national level through strategic research, communications and collaboration. Today, we are the driving force behind advancing ranked choice voting and fair representation in multi-winner legislative districts that will open up our elections to better choices, fairer representation and more civil campaigns.
HeadCount is a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy. HeadCount uses a grassroots approach to reach young people and music fans at concerts and online to inform and empower. Like music and democracy? Come work (or volunteer) with us!
Learn about how to be involved at a concert or event near you.
Indivisible is committed to providing civic education, policy resources, strategic guidance, and targeted trainings for groups across the country. It educates and empowers civic leaders at the community level across the country.
Learn more about Indivisible and volunteer opportunities available in several states.
Leaders We Deserve is a grassroots organization dedicated to electing young progressives to Congress and State Legislatures across the country to help defeat the far-right agenda and advance a progressive vision for the future.
The League of Women Voters of the United States encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The Lincoln Project is a leading pro-democracy organization in the United States — dedicated to the preservation, protection, and defense of democracy. The Lincoln Project launched with two stated objectives. The first was to defeat Donald Trump at the ballot box. The second was to ensure Trumpism failed alongside him. As we have seen, our fight against Trumpism is only beginning. We must combat these forces everywhere and at all times. Our democracy depends on it.
Learn more about The Lincoln Project and available volunteer opportunities.
People For the American Way Foundation conducts research, legal, and education work on behalf of First Amendment freedoms and democratic values; monitors, exposes, and challenges the Religious Right movement and its political allies; identifies, trains, and supports the next generation of progressive leaders through its Young People For youth leadership programs and its Young Elected Officials Network; and carries out nonpartisan voter education, registration, civic participation, and election protection activities.
Project Vote is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded on the belief that an organized, diverse electorate is the key to a better America. Project Vote’s mission is to build an electorate that accurately represents the diversity of this nation’s citizenry, and to ensure that every eligible citizen can register, vote, and cast a ballot that counts.
Project Vote Smart offers services and programs for political journalists to enhance their coverage of politics and elections. The Project partners with more than 300 national, state, and local news organizations, all endorsing Project programs. In addition to comprehensive databases on more than 40,000 candidates and incumbents, the Project provides journalists with special research services and publications. We devote considerable effort to researching information about all candidates for presidential, congressional, gubernatorial and state legislative office and elected officials. Voters thus have access to unbiased information on candidates as well as those serving in elected positions.
Learn more about Project Vote Smart and available volunteer opportunities.
The Public Citizen Foundation supports Public Citizen’s education, litigation, research, and public information activities. Public Citizen is a national consumer advocacy organization founded in 1971 to represent consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch and the courts. Public Citizen fights for openness and democratic accountability in government, for the right of consumers to seek redress in the courts; for clean, safe and sustainable energy sources; for social and economic justice in trade policies; for strong health, safety and environmental protections; and for safe, effective and affordable prescription drugs and health care.
Learn more about Public Citizen and available opportunities.
Rideshare2Vote was created to increase the voice and power of people by expanding their civic engagement and voting rights. We have created a voter touch outreach field program that includes our transportation service specifically for Democratic and progressive voters. Rideshare2Vote focuses our work in disenfranchised communities; voting for the first time; who are not voting in every election; that are disabled; living in poverty and who are elderly.
Learn more about Rideshare2Vote and available volunteer opportunities.
Fusing pop culture, politics, and technology, Rock the Vote works to mobilize the millennial voting bloc and the youth vote, protect voting rights, and advocate for an electoral process and voting system that works for the 21st century electorate. For almost 25 years, Rock the Vote has pioneered ways to make voting easier by simplifying and demystifying voter registration and elections for young adults.
Learn more about Rock the Vote and available volunteer opportunities.
The Andrew Goodman Foundation makes young voices and votes a powerful force in democracy. Our ability to spark their passion — today — will result in change, tomorrow. The Andrew Goodman Foundation supports youth leadership development, voting accessibility, and social justice initiatives on campuses across the country with mini-grants to select institutions of higher learning and other financial assistance to students.
Our vision is that young people will become active, engaged citizens who ensure a just democracy and sustainable future. Join us during this critical time for American democracy and help shape the next generation of civic leaders.
Learn more about The Andrew Goodman Foundation and available volunteer opportunities.
The Center for Public Integrity is dedicated to producing original, responsible investigative journalism on issues of public concern. The mission of the Center for Public Integrity is to protect democracy and inspire change using investigative reporting that exposes betrayals of the public trust by powerful interests. To pursue its mission, the Center generates high-quality, accessible investigative reports, databases, and contextual analysis on issues of public importance; disseminates work to journalists, policymakers, scholars, and citizens using a combination of digital, electronic, and print media; and educates, engages, and empowers citizens with the tools and skills they need to hold government and other private institutions accountable.
The Civics Center is dedicated to building the foundations of youth civic engagement and voter participation in high schools through education, organizing, and advocacy. We support student-led, peer-to-peer voter registration and pre-registration efforts in high school communities.
Learn more about The Civics Center and available volunteer opportunities.
TurnUp is non-profit organization and mobile app that comprises the largest youth-led voter registration and turnout initiative. TurnUp’s 2024 election engagement plans include four integrated programs that work together to increase youth voter registration and turnout: physical registration and turnout drives; relational registration and turnout drives; grassroots organizing; and digital campaigns. TurnUp has Volunteer and Internship positions for high school, college, and recent graduates.
VoteRiders is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their freedom to vote. VoteRiders informs and helps citizens to secure their voter ID as well as inspires and supports organizations, local volunteers, and communities to sustain voter ID education and assistance efforts. VoteRiders offers a variety of volunteer options including virtual and on the ground positions.
When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.
Learn more about When We All Vote and available volunteer opportunities.
Resources
Defending our values through knowledge and action.
Dear Friends
If you missed today’s program featuring Jon Michaels in conversation with Madeleine Brand, you can watch the program at THIS PAST EVENTSLINK. The program will post a few hours after it ends. Starting Thursday morning, you can listen AT THIS PODCAST LINK.
Next Wednesday, April 23 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome Ambassador (fmr) Michael McFaul and Larry Diamond in conversation (see bios below) “Trump’s Foreign Policy: The Impact on Global Democracy and U.S. National Security” (Register Here).
Michael McFaul served for five years in the Obama administration, first as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009 – 2012), and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2012 to 2014. He is a Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, where he serves as Director and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.
Larry Diamond is an American political sociologist and a leading contemporary scholar in the field of democracy studies. Diamond is a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.
The Washington Post
David Ignatius
April 15, 2025
By saying ‘no’ to Trump, Harvard saves its soul
The university will pay a painful price for refusing to compromise its independence to the Trump administration.
Harvard University just gave us all a lesson in how to answer a bully with one powerful word: “No.”
The Trump administration tried to intimidate Harvard — as it has so many government agencies, corporate executives, law firms and other universities — by threatening to cut off government money. In Harvard’s case, that meant a “review” of $8.7 billion in multiyear grants. The administration last week demanded a humiliating settlement that would have imposed an outside “audit” of faculty hiring, student admissions and other internal matters.
Harvard refused to capitulate. “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” wrote Harvard President Alan M. Garber on Monday. “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
(To read the complete article, click here)
The Washington Post
Max Boot
April 14, 2025
How a trade war becomes a shooting war
Trump and Xi, take note
In 2014, the eminent political scientist Graham Allison wrote an influential book called “Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap?” The subtitle referred to a famous passage in Thucydides’s “History of the Peloponnesian War”: “It was the rise of Athens, and the fear that this inspired in Sparta, that made war inevitable.”
Allison surveyed the history of the past 500 years and found 16 cases in which a major nation’s rise has disrupted the position of a dominant state. In 12 of those instances, the result was war. And that includes two of the most horrific conflicts in history: World War I was caused in no small part by the rise of Imperial Germany, and World War II was caused by the rise of both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Allison sounded an alarm that another conflict was brewing because the rise of China was threatening U.S. hegemony. There was nothing inevitable about a U.S.-China conflict, he wrote in 2014, but the odds were that one would eventually erupt.
(To read the complete article, click here)
Dear Friends
Tomorrow, Wednesday at 5 pm Pacific we welcome Jon Michaels (see bio below), who will be in conversation with Madeleine Brand: “Vigilante Nation: The Subversion of American Democracy”
Jon Michaels is a professor in the UCLA School of Law and an expert on how government works, national security law, and constitutional law. Michaels’ current scholarship centers on government privational and the practical and constitutional implications of running government like a business. He is an authority on bureaucracy and the regulatory state, privatization of domestic and national security functions, presidential powers, government ethics, and conflicts of interest.
The Washington Post
Max Boot
April 14, 2025
How a trade war becomes a shooting war
Trump and Xi, take note
In 2014, the eminent political scientist Graham Allison wrote an influential book called “Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap?” The subtitle referred to a famous passage in Thucydides’s “History of the Peloponnesian War”: “It was the rise of Athens, and the fear that this inspired in Sparta, that made war inevitable.”
Allison surveyed the history of the past 500 years and found 16 cases in which a major nation’s rise has disrupted the position of a dominant state. In 12 of those instances, the result was war. And that includes two of the most horrific conflicts in history: World War I was caused in no small part by the rise of Imperial Germany, and World War II was caused by the rise of both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Allison sounded an alarm that another conflict was brewing because the rise of China was threatening U.S. hegemony. There was nothing inevitable about a U.S.-China conflict, he wrote in 2014, but the odds were that one would eventually erupt.
(To read the complete article, click here)
Los Angeles Times
Jackie Calmes, Columnist
April 10, 2025
What Hannah Arendt saw in Hitler’s Germany, we can see in Trump’s America
As a descendant of German immigrants, from college on I devoured histories of the rise of fascism to grasp how the cultured and educated democracy of my great grandparents could succumb so tragically. I never got it; I had an American’s complacency that made Germans’ complicity incomprehensible. Decades later, I do understand. Because it is happening here.
Comparing Hitler and the Nazis to Donald Trump and his MAGA movement is of course fraught. Trump’s world war is a bloodless one over trade; his lawless roundups of migrants and domestic enemies aim to deport, not exterminate.
And yet the parallels are undeniable. That was dramatically clear this week when I participated in a preview and discussion of a documentary on the life of German American Hannah Arendt, the Jewish survivor and chronicler of Nazi totalitarianism. (The film, “Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny,” will air on PBS on June 27.)
(To read the complete article, click here)
Dear Friends
This Wednesday, April 16 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome Jon Michaels (see bio below), who will be in conversation with Madeleine Brand: “Vigilante Nation: The Subversion of American Democracy”
Wednesday, April 16 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome Jon Michaels (see bio below), who will be in conversation with Madeleine Brand: “Vigilante Nation: The Subversion of American Democracy”
Jon Michaels is a professor in the UCLA School of Law and an expert on how government works, national security law, and constitutional law. Michaels’ current scholarship centers on government privational and the practical and constitutional implications of running government like a business. He is an authority on bureaucracy and the regulatory state, privatization of domestic and national security functions, presidential powers, government ethics, and conflicts of interest.
Los Angeles Times
Jackie Calmes, Columnist
April 10, 2025
What Hannah Arendt saw in Hitler’s Germany, we can see in Trump’s America
As a descendant of German immigrants, from college on I devoured histories of the rise of fascism to grasp how the cultured and educated democracy of my great grandparents could succumb so tragically. I never got it; I had an American’s complacency that made Germans’ complicity incomprehensible. Decades later, I do understand. Because it is happening here.
Comparing Hitler and the Nazis to Donald Trump and his MAGA movement is of course fraught. Trump’s world war is a bloodless one over trade; his lawless roundups of migrants and domestic enemies aim to deport, not exterminate.
And yet the parallels are undeniable. That was dramatically clear this week when I participated in a preview and discussion of a documentary on the life of German American Hannah Arendt, the Jewish survivor and chronicler of Nazi totalitarianism. (The film, “Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny,” will air on PBS on June 27.)
(To read the complete article, click here)
The New York Times
Thomas L. Friedman
Trump and Netanyahu Steer Toward an Ugly World, Together
April 8, 2025
There was a time when a meeting between the president of the United States and the prime minister of Israel brought only pride to both Israeli and American Jews, who saw two democratic leaders working together. Well, I know that I am not alone when I say that pride is not the emotion that welled up in me on seeing the chummy picture of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu meeting in the Oval Office on Monday. It was disgust and depression.
Each is a wannabe autocrat, each is working to undermine the rule of law and so-called elites in his respective country, each is seeking to crush what he calls a “deep state” of government professionals. Each is steering his nation away from its once universal aspiration to be a “light unto the nations” toward a narrow, brutish might-equals-right ethnonationalism that is ready to mainstream ethnic cleansing. Each treats his political opposition not as legitimate but as enemies within, and each has filled his cabinet with incompetent hacks, deliberately chosen for loyalty to him instead of the laws of their lands.
(To read the complete article, click here)
A Passover Message to Our America at a Crossroads Friends
Each year at Passover, we retell the story of the Hebrews’ journey from slavery to freedom, a transformation that reaches its apex with the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai—the moment they became a people. Passover reminds us that freedom is not a one-time event, but an ongoing pursuit that calls for our constant commitment and active participation.
We hope your seder table is filled with meaningful conversation, inspiration, and hope for the journey ahead.
Janice, Mel and Zev
Wednesday, April 16 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome Jon Michaels (see bio below), who will be in conversation with Madeleine Brand: “Vigilante Nation: The Subversion of American Democracy”
Jon Michaels is a professor in the UCLA School of Law and an expert on how government works, national security law, and constitutional law. Michaels’ current scholarship centers on government privational and the practical and constitutional implications of running government like a business. He is an authority on bureaucracy and the regulatory state, privatization of domestic and national security functions, presidential powers, government ethics, and conflicts of interest.
The New York Times
Thomas L. Friedman
Trump and Netanyahu Steer Toward an Ugly World, Together
April 8, 2025
There was a time when a meeting between the president of the United States and the prime minister of Israel brought only pride to both Israeli and American Jews, who saw two democratic leaders working together. Well, I know that I am not alone when I say that pride is not the emotion that welled up in me on seeing the chummy picture of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu meeting in the Oval Office on Monday. It was disgust and depression.
Each is a wannabe autocrat, each is working to undermine the rule of law and so-called elites in his respective country, each is seeking to crush what he calls a “deep state” of government professionals. Each is steering his nation away from its once universal aspiration to be a “light unto the nations” toward a narrow, brutish might-equals-right ethnonationalism that is ready to mainstream ethnic cleansing. Each treats his political opposition not as legitimate but as enemies within, and each has filled his cabinet with incompetent hacks, deliberately chosen for loyalty to him instead of the laws of their lands.
(To read the complete article, click here)
Dear Friend:
TODAY at 5 pm Pacific we welcome Sarah Longwell & George Conway III (see bios below), who will be in conversation with Warren Olney: “Whither Goest Thou America?: Hopes for the Future of Our Country”
Sarah Longwell is the publisher of The Bulwark, which she helped found in 2019. She regularly conducts focus groups with voters across the political spectrum and hosts the podcast “The Focus Group.” which is is its fourth season, and co-hosts “The Next Level” podcast and “The Secret Podcast.” Sarah, formerly a Republican, was a vocal Never Trumper; she is the founder of Republican Accountability, which spent millions of dollars to defeat then-President Donald Trump in 2020.
George Conway III is an American lawyer and activist. In 2018, Conway emerged as a vocal Trump critic while his wife, Kellyanne Conway, worked for Trump from 2016 to 2020. During the 2020 presidential election, Conway was involved with the Lincoln Project, a coalition of former Republicans dedicated to defeating Trump.
Warren Olney was the host and executive producer of the nationally syndicated weekday afternoon program “To the Point,” which originated at KCRW. Olney and his programs have been honored with nearly 40 national, regional and local awards for broadcast excellence. He is the only two-time winner of the Los Angeles Society of Professional Journalists Distinguished Journalist award.
The Washington Post
Dana Milbank
The Economy. The Constitution.
Is there anything Trump won’t destroy?
April 4, 2025
The same day Trump said he would chop down Andrew Jackson’s magnolia, he swung an ax at the Constitution.
President Donald Trump announced this week that he would chop down a southern magnolia tree planted almost 200 years ago at the White House by Andrew Jackson.
Trump explained that the ancient tree, which shaded FDR and Winston Churchill and Herbert Hoover’s Cabinet meetings and appeared for 70 years on the back of the $20 bill, is “a very dangerous safety hazard.” That’s plausible, but his announcement follows by a month his disclosure that he also plans to pave the Rose Garden (“make that into a stone surface”), which has occupied the space adjacent to the Jackson magnolia for 122 years. Paving the area may not have been possible without killing the tree because of its sprawling, shallow roots.
Trump says he is also planning to remodel the 233-year-old White House itself to build a “magnificent ballroom” — styled after cheesy Mar-a-Lago.
Is there anything this man won’t destroy?
(To read the complete article, click here)
The New York Times
Edited Transcript: The Ezra Klein Show with Economist Paul Krugman
April 5, 2025
Biggest Trade Shock in History
The trade economist Paul Krugman parses the ‘layers of wrongness’ in Trump’s tariff policy.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how liberated are you feeling?
We just had Donald Trump’s big “Liberation Day,” when he announced a huge package of tariffs. They were larger, by far, than markets were expecting — which led markets to lose a lot of value in the hours right after. The tariffs were also more confusing than people were expecting.
(To read the complete edited transcript, click here)
Dear Friend:
This Wednesday, April 9 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome Sarah Longwell and George Conway III (see bios below), who will be in conversation with Warren Olney: “Whither Goest Thou America?: Hopes for the Future of Our Country”
Sarah Longwell is the publisher of The Bulwark, which she helped found in 2019. She regularly conducts focus groups with voters across the political spectrum and hosts the podcast “The Focus Group.” which is is its fourth season, and co-hosts “The Next Level” podcast and “The Secret Podcast.” Sarah, formerly a Republican, was a vocal Never Trumper; she is the founder of Republican Accountability, which spent millions of dollars to defeat then-President Donald Trump in 2020.
George Conway III is an American lawyer and activist. In 2018, Conway emerged as a vocal Trump critic while his wife, Kellyanne Conway, worked for Trump from 2016 to 2020. During the 2020 presidential election, Conway was involved with the Lincoln Project, a coalition of former Republicans dedicated to defeating Trump.
Warren Olney was the host and executive producer of the nationally syndicated weekday afternoon program “To the Point,” which originated at KCRW. Olney and his programs have been honored with nearly 40 national, regional and local awards for broadcast excellence. He is the only two-time winner of the Los Angeles Society of Professional Journalists Distinguished Journalist award.
The Washington Post
Dana Milbank
The Economy. The Constitution.
Is there anything Trump won’t destroy?
April 4, 2025
The same day Trump said he would chop down Andrew Jackson’s magnolia, he swung an ax at the Constitution.
President Donald Trump announced this week that he would chop down a southern magnolia tree planted almost 200 years ago at the White House by Andrew Jackson.
Trump explained that the ancient tree, which shaded FDR and Winston Churchill and Herbert Hoover’s Cabinet meetings and appeared for 70 years on the back of the $20 bill, is “a very dangerous safety hazard.” That’s plausible, but his announcement follows by a month his disclosure that he also plans to pave the Rose Garden (“make that into a stone surface”), which has occupied the space adjacent to the Jackson magnolia for 122 years. Paving the area may not have been possible without killing the tree because of its sprawling, shallow roots.
Trump says he is also planning to remodel the 233-year-old White House itself to build a “magnificent ballroom” — styled after cheesy Mar-a-Lago.
Is there anything this man won’t destroy?
(To read the complete article, click here)
The New York Times
Edited Transcript: The Ezra Klein Show with Economist Paul Krugman
April 5, 2025
Biggest Trade Shock in History
The trade economist Paul Krugman parses the ‘layers of wrongness’ in Trump’s tariff policy.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how liberated are you feeling?
We just had Donald Trump’s big “Liberation Day,” when he announced a huge package of tariffs. They were larger, by far, than markets were expecting — which led markets to lose a lot of value in the hours right after. The tariffs were also more confusing than people were expecting.
(To read the complete edited transcript, click here)
Dear Friend:
If you missed today’s program featuring Ambassador Dennis Ross in conversation with Larry Mantle, you can watch the program at THIS PAST EVENTSLINK. The program will post a few hours after it ends. Starting Thursday morning, you can listen AT THIS PODCAST LINK.
Next Wednesday, April 9 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome Sarah Longwell and George Conway III (see bios below), who will be in conversation with Warren Olney: “Whither Goest Thou America?: Hopes for the Future of Our Country”
Sarah Longwell is the publisher of The Bulwark, which she helped found in 2019. She regularly conducts focus groups with voters across the political spectrum and hosts the podcast “The Focus Group.” which is is its fourth season, and co-hosts “The Next Level” podcast and “The Secret Podcast.” Sarah, formerly a Republican, was a vocal Never Trumper; she is the founder of Republican Accountability, which spent millions of dollars to defeat then-President Donald Trump in 2020.
George Conway III is an American lawyer and activist. In 2018, Conway emerged as a vocal Trump critic while his wife, Kellyanne Conway, worked for Trump from 2016 to 2020. During the 2020 presidential election, Conway was involved with the Lincoln Project, a coalition of former Republicans dedicated to defeating Trump.
Warren Olney was the host and executive producer of the nationally syndicated weekday afternoon program “To the Point,” which originated at KCRW. Olney and his programs have been honored with nearly 40 national, regional and local awards for broadcast excellence. He is the only two-time winner of the Los Angeles Society of Professional Journalists Distinguished Journalist award.
Dear Friend:
Wednesday, April 2 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome Ambassador Dennis Ross (see bio below), who will be in conversation with Larry Mantle: “Statecraft: Donald Trump, the Prospects for the Middle East and US Foreign Policy in 2025” (Register Here)
Ambassador Dennis Ross is counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. For more than twelve years, Ambassador Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process and dealing directly with the parties in negotiations. A highly skilled diplomat, Ambassador Ross was U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. Dennis Ross has published seven books relating to diplomacy. His newest book is “Statecraft 2.0,” which focuses on what American diplomacy must do to lead in the new multipolar world reality in which the U.S. has multiple military and economic competitors.
The Washington Institute
Here’s Why the U.S. Is No Longer the World’s Only Superpower
by Dennis Ross
Mar 4, 2025
Over the past several decades, the world order has shifted. Today, the United States is no longer a unipolar uber-power, and this shift has dramatic implications for those inside, and outside, of our borders.
I have long been a student and practitioner of statecraft. For four decades, I worked for both Democratic and Republican Presidents, including as the head of Policy Planning for President George H.W. Bush and as a Special Envoy for President Bill Clinton, as well as a member of the National Security Council staff for Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.
In 2006, I wrote a book about statecraft to explain what I felt was missing from the foreign policy of George W. Bush. Statecraft involves using all the tools that we have—diplomatic, economic, military, intelligence, management, information, organization—to advance our interests, deter threats, and defend the country. At the time, I felt that the Bush policies, especially the decision to go to war in Iraq, reflected little understanding about what the U.S. was getting into—and we paid the price with a very costly war, with very limited gains, as a result.
One of the ironies of writing a new book on statecraft is that I was able to analyze how President Bush changed during his second term, particularly with regards to Iraq. In deciding to go to war in Iraq in 2003, the president presided over a groupthink that assumed away the prospect of failure. There was no real debate about the pros and cons of going to war, and those who did raise questions were increasingly excluded from the decision-making process. But by 2007, our policy was failing and Iraq was disintegrating into a sectarian war. It was President Bush who raised hard questions about our strategy, and his national security advisor, Steve Hadley, made sure there was a systematic review of all options. The processes could not have been more different—and so were the results. Bush made the decision to surge forces which restored some security to Iraqis, stopped the sectarian violence, and produced greater stability.
(to read the complete article click here)
Dear Friend:
If you missed yesterday’s program featuring Harry Litman in conversation with Patt Morrison, you can watch the program at THIS PAST EVENTS LINK. The program will post a few hours after it ends. Starting Thursday morning, you can listen AT THIS PODCAST LINK.
Next Wednesday, April 2 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome Ambassador Dennis Ross (see bio below), who will be in conversation with Larry Mantle: “Statecraft: Donald Trump, the Prospects for the Middle East and US Foreign Policy in 2025” (Register Here)
Ambassador Dennis Ross is counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. For more than twelve years, Ambassador Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process and dealing directly with the parties in negotiations. A highly skilled diplomat, Ambassador Ross was U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. Dennis Ross has published seven books relating to diplomacy. His newest book is “Statecraft 2.0,” which focuses on what American diplomacy must do to lead in the new multipolar world reality in which the U.S. has multiple military and economic competitors.
The Washington Institute
Here’s Why the U.S. Is No Longer the World’s Only Superpower
by Dennis Ross
Mar 4, 2025
Over the past several decades, the world order has shifted. Today, the United States is no longer a unipolar uber-power, and this shift has dramatic implications for those inside, and outside, of our borders.
I have long been a student and practitioner of statecraft. For four decades, I worked for both Democratic and Republican Presidents, including as the head of Policy Planning for President George H.W. Bush and as a Special Envoy for President Bill Clinton, as well as a member of the National Security Council staff for Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.
In 2006, I wrote a book about statecraft to explain what I felt was missing from the foreign policy of George W. Bush. Statecraft involves using all the tools that we have—diplomatic, economic, military, intelligence, management, information, organization—to advance our interests, deter threats, and defend the country. At the time, I felt that the Bush policies, especially the decision to go to war in Iraq, reflected little understanding about what the U.S. was getting into—and we paid the price with a very costly war, with very limited gains, as a result.
One of the ironies of writing a new book on statecraft is that I was able to analyze how President Bush changed during his second term, particularly with regards to Iraq. In deciding to go to war in Iraq in 2003, the president presided over a groupthink that assumed away the prospect of failure. There was no real debate about the pros and cons of going to war, and those who did raise questions were increasingly excluded from the decision-making process. But by 2007, our policy was failing and Iraq was disintegrating into a sectarian war. It was President Bush who raised hard questions about our strategy, and his national security advisor, Steve Hadley, made sure there was a systematic review of all options. The processes could not have been more different—and so were the results. Bush made the decision to surge forces which restored some security to Iraqis, stopped the sectarian violence, and produced greater stability.
(to read the complete article click here)
Dear Friend:
Wednesday, March 26 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome legal analyst Harry Litman (see bio below), who will be in conversation with Patt Morrison on the topice: “Can our Justice System Weather this Storm?” (Register Here)
Harry Litman, a former United States Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General, is the creator and executive producer of the podcast “Talking Feds,” a weekly roundtable with prominent guests. Talking Feds franchises include a “Talking Books” series; a weekly 1-on-1 interview with diverse national figures; daily you tube explainers at the Talking Feds youtube channel; a “Talking San Diego” series of 1-on-1 live conversations; and Litman’ssubstack, where he posts 3 times a week. Litman is also a regular commentator on MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and CBS News; a founding contributor to the Contrarian; the Senior Legal Columnist for The New Republic; and a Senior Fellow at the USC’s Annenberg Center on Communication, Leadership, and Policy.
The Washington Post
David French
The Last Thing Democrats Need Is Their Own Tea Party
March 20, 2025
Everywhere I turn, I hear Democrats asking the same question: Is it time for a liberal Tea Party?
I was asked a version of that question this week on MSNBC. I’ve seen that question in publication after publication. I understand the impulse. In retrospect it seems that Republican confusion and despair after Barack Obama’s decisive victory in 2008 lasted for a remarkably short time. It certainly seems that the Tea Party gave the Republicans a blueprint for defiance and ultimate triumph.
But I see things differently. As a conservative who once represented dozens of Tea Party organizations in court I’m here to answer that question with an emphatic no. A new Tea Party wouldn’t work for the Democrats the way it worked for Republicans, and more important, it would be terrible for the country. The Democrats would fight fire with fire, and we would all get burned.
(to read the complete article click here)
The Washington Post
David Ignatius
Trump is nearing a sharp fork in the road to Ukraine peace
Putin’s maximalist stance might force the U.S. president’s hand.
March 18, 2025
President Donald Trump appears far more eager for a peace deal in Ukraine than does Russian President Vladimir Putin. That’s the obvious takeaway from Tuesday’s two-hour call between the two leaders.
Trump comes across as an avid suitor in his brief, upbeat readout of the conversation, describing the talks as “very good and productive.” Putin is more guarded in the longer Kremlin version, friendly but unyielding on his basic demands. He agreed to a 30-day pause in “attacks on energy infrastructure facilities.” Ukraine had endorsed Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire on all fronts for that period. Make sense of the latest news and debates with our daily newsletter
This wasn’t a telephonic version of Yalta, in short, despite the ballyhoo that preceded the call. It highlighted differences more than agreement. And this first round confirmed what intelligence officials had predicted to me: that Putin hasn’t given up his desire to dominate Kyiv. He hopes to win in negotiations what he hasn’t been able to on the battlefield.Putin’s maximalist stance might force the U.S. president’s hand.
(to read the complete article click here)
Dear Friend:
Wednesday, March 26 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome legal analyst Harry Litman (see bio below), who will be in conversation with Patt Morrison on the topice: “Can our Justice System Weather this Storm?” (Register Here)
Harry Litman is the creator and executive producer of “Talking Fed’s” a popular podcast and YouTube channel that brings together prominent figures from government, law, and journalism for dynamic discussions on the most important topics of the day. He is a founding contributor to The Contrarian, and is also the creator of the Talking San Diego speaker series. Litman is the senior legal columnist for the New Republic, a regular commentator on MSNBC and CNN, and a former United States Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General.
The Washington Post
David French
The Last Thing Democrats Need Is Their Own Tea Party
March 20, 2025
Everywhere I turn, I hear Democrats asking the same question: Is it time for a liberal Tea Party?
I was asked a version of that question this week on MSNBC. I’ve seen that question in publication after publication. I understand the impulse. In retrospect it seems that Republican confusion and despair after Barack Obama’s decisive victory in 2008 lasted for a remarkably short time. It certainly seems that the Tea Party gave the Republicans a blueprint for defiance and ultimate triumph.
But I see things differently. As a conservative who once represented dozens of Tea Party organizations in court I’m here to answer that question with an emphatic no. A new Tea Party wouldn’t work for the Democrats the way it worked for Republicans, and more important, it would be terrible for the country. The Democrats would fight fire with fire, and we would all get burned.
(to read the complete article click here)
The Washington Post
David Ignatius
Trump is nearing a sharp fork in the road to Ukraine peace
Putin’s maximalist stance might force the U.S. president’s hand.
March 18, 2025
President Donald Trump appears far more eager for a peace deal in Ukraine than does Russian President Vladimir Putin. That’s the obvious takeaway from Tuesday’s two-hour call between the two leaders.
Trump comes across as an avid suitor in his brief, upbeat readout of the conversation, describing the talks as “very good and productive.” Putin is more guarded in the longer Kremlin version, friendly but unyielding on his basic demands. He agreed to a 30-day pause in “attacks on energy infrastructure facilities.” Ukraine had endorsed Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire on all fronts for that period. Make sense of the latest news and debates with our daily newsletter
This wasn’t a telephonic version of Yalta, in short, despite the ballyhoo that preceded the call. It highlighted differences more than agreement. And this first round confirmed what intelligence officials had predicted to me: that Putin hasn’t given up his desire to dominate Kyiv. He hopes to win in negotiations what he hasn’t been able to on the battlefield.Putin’s maximalist stance might force the U.S. president’s hand.
(to read the complete article click here)
Dear Friend:
If you missed today’s program featuring Susan Glasser in conversation with Madeleine Brand, you can watch the program at THIS PAST EVENTS LINK. The program will post a few hours after it ends. Starting Thursday morning, you can listen AT THIS PODCAST LINK.
Next Wednesday, March 26 at 5 pm Pacific we welcome former US Attorney Harry Litman (see bio below), who will be in conversation with Patt Morrison: “Can our Justice System Weather the Storm?” (Register Here)
Harry Litman is the creator and executive producer of “Talking Fed’s” a popular podcast and YouTube channel that brings together prominent figures from government, law, and journalism for dynamic discussions on the most important topics of the day. He is a founding contributor to The Contrarian, and is also the creator of the Talking San Diego speaker series. Litman is the senior legal columnist for the New Republic, a regular commentator on MSNBC and CNN, and a former United States Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General.
The Washington Post
David Ignatius
Trump is nearing a sharp fork in the road to Ukraine peace
Putin’s maximalist stance might force the U.S. president’s hand.
March 18, 2025
President Donald Trump appears far more eager for a peace deal in Ukraine than does Russian President Vladimir Putin. That’s the obvious takeaway from Tuesday’s two-hour call between the two leaders.
Trump comes across as an avid suitor in his brief, upbeat readout of the conversation, describing the talks as “very good and productive.” Putin is more guarded in the longer Kremlin version, friendly but unyielding on his basic demands. He agreed to a 30-day pause in “attacks on energy infrastructure facilities.” Ukraine had endorsed Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire on all fronts for that period. Make sense of the latest news and debates with our daily newsletter
This wasn’t a telephonic version of Yalta, in short, despite the ballyhoo that preceded the call. It highlighted differences more than agreement. And this first round confirmed what intelligence officials had predicted to me: that Putin hasn’t given up his desire to dominate Kyiv. He hopes to win in negotiations what he hasn’t been able to on the battlefield.Putin’s maximalist stance might force the U.S. president’s hand.
(to read the complete article click here)
The Washington Post
Trump is launching America’s version of the Cultural Revolution
The president’s war on colleges undermines a crucial competitive edge.
March 14, 2025
There is no area in which the United States’ global dominance is more total than higher education. With about 4 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of its gross domestic product, America has 72 percent of the world’s 25 top universities by one ranking and 64 percent by another. But this crucial U.S. competitive advantage is being undermined by the Trump administration’s war on colleges. Hat tip to the New York Times’s Michelle Goldberg for raising this issue as well.
“We have to honestly and aggressively attack the universities in this country. The professors are the enemy,” said JD Vance during a speech to the National Conservatism Conference in 2021. The administration has put those words into action. The most dramatic assault has been financial: a freezing or massive reduction in research grants and loans from the federal government. Some of these efforts are under court review, but the cumulative impact could be billions of dollars in cuts to basic research, much of it disrupting ongoing projects and programs.
High quality research in the United States has emerged in a unique ecosystem. The federal government provides much of the funding through prominent institutions such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Private foundations and companies account for most of the rest. Professors at universities, both public and private, use these funds to conduct the research. No other country has a system that works as well. What is at risk now is what Holden Thorp, the editor in chief of the Science family of journals, calls, “the social contract that the federal government and institutions have had to enable the scientific research enterprise in America in the last 80 years.”
(to read the complete article click here)
Voting Rights and Empowerment
Immigration and Asylum
Equality - Fighting Hate and Discrimination
Freedom of the Press
Voting Rights and Empowerment
CENTER FOR COMMON GROUND’S RECLAIM OUR VOTE CAMPAIGN
Ongoing voter suppression and voter list purging have been disenfranchising millions of eligible voters — especially voters of color. Reclaim Our Vote works in those voter suppression states. Our volunteers inform and mobilize voters of color to make sure they are registered and they know how to get a ballot and vote. It is a nonpartisan campaign of the nonprofit 501(c)3 Center for Common Ground.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
The League of Women Voters of the United States encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS
Postcards to Voters are friendly, handwritten reminders from volunteers to targeted voters giving Democrats a winning edge in close, key races coast to coast.
ROCK THE VOTE
In 1990, music executives founded Rock the Vote in response to the censorship of hip-hop and rap artists. Our first partnership, with MTV, promoted the message that “Censorship is Un-American” and activated millions of young people across the country to exercise their rights and represent their interests. For thirty years, we have continuously adapted to the changing landscapes of media, technology and culture to breakthrough and empower each new generation.
VOTE.ORG
Vote.org uses technology to simplify political engagement, increase voter turnout, and strengthen American democracy.
WHEN WE ALL VOTE
When We All Vote is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that is on a mission to increase participation in every election and close the race and age voting gap by changing the culture around voting, harnessing grassroots energy, and through strategic partnerships to reach every American.
Immigration and Asylum
ACLU
For nearly one hundred years, ACLU lawyers have been at the center of one history-making court case after another, participating in more Supreme Court cases than any other private organization. With attorneys nationwide, we handle thousands of cases each year on behalf of clients whose rights have been violated.
Bet Tzedek
Bet Tzedek attorneys and advocates help people of all communities and generations secure life’s necessities. Wherever people are in crisis, Bet Tzedek’s core services and rapid response programs provide stability and hope.
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
CHIRLA is a California leader with the national impact made of diverse immigrant families and individuals who act as agents of social change to achieve a world with freedom of mobility, full human rights, and true participatory democracy. CHIRLA’s mission is to achieve a just society fully inclusive of immigrants.
HIAS
HIAS works around the world to protect refugees who have been forced to flee their homelands because of who they are, including ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. For more than 130 years, HIAS has been helping refugees rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.
Public Counsel
Public Counsel is the largest pro bono law firm in the nation. We work with major law firms and corporations to change people’s futures. A staff of 71 attorneys and 50 support staff – including five social workers – along with over 5,000 volunteer lawyers, law students and legal professionals assists over 30,000 children, youth, families, and community organizations every year.
Equality - Fighting Hate and Discrimination
ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE
ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is a global leader in exposing extremism and delivering anti-bias education, and is a leading organization in training law enforcement. ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate.
BEND THE ARC
Bend the Arc is a movement of tens of thousands of progressive Jews all across the country. For years, we’ve worked to build a more just society. Now we’re rising up in solidarity with everyone threatened by the Trump agenda to fight for the soul of our nation.
EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
INTEGRITY FIRST FOR AMERICA
Integrity First for America (IFA) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to holding those accountable who threaten longstanding principles of our democracy—including our country’s commitment to civil rights and equal justice.
NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
Freedom of the Press
ACLU
For nearly one hundred years, ACLU lawyers have been at the center of one history-making court case after another, participating in more Supreme Court cases than any other private organization. With attorneys nationwide, we handle thousands of cases each year on behalf of clients whose rights have been violated.
REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists.