Congress is turning its attention to the National Defense Authorization Act this week, the massive budget legislation that funds the Department of Defense. Despite the end of the 20-year war in Afghanistan, Congress is angling to boost the Pentagon budget by over $20 billion dollars. Big Spenders Unlike every other industrialized country, the United States… Read more
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The Corporate Corruption of Kyrsten Sinema
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The Senate is in the midst of a contentious battle to pass a $3.5 billion social and climate spending package. As negotiations continue, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, one of the two centrist Democrats holding up the process and staunchly defending the filibuster, is making headlines for some controversial campaign fundraising. In September, Sinema held a… Read more
Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
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On March 7, 1965, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Chairman John Lewis led hundreds of activists across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in a march for voting rights for people of color. They were met at the end of the bridge by a wall of state troopers, who proceeded to attack the marchers with nightsticks, tear… Read more
Big Money: The Power Behind the War Machine in Afghanistan
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The War in Afghanistan killed more than 241,000 people and cost the United States $2 trillion. What was the point? Why did we spend so much time and so many resources on a war that was doomed to fail? As you might expect, big money played a major role. How Private Contractors Fueled 20 Years… Read more
“Recess Can Wait; Our Democracy Can’t”
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This week, the Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD) coalition and 22 of its member organizations released statements calling on Congress to delay its August recess to pass the For The People Act. “One of the major tenets of a fully functioning democracy is that the public interest, not special interests, guide decision-making,” said DFAD director… Read more
The Battle for Democracy in Texas
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In the wake of the contentious 2020 election, state legislatures have proposed nearly 400 bills designed to restrict voting rights. Some states, like Georgia and Florida, have succeeded in passing legislation that primarily disenfranchises communities of color. And then there’s Texas, the current battleground state for voting rights. Back up. What’s happening in Texas? It’s… Read more
Look Past the Rainbow
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Each year on June 1, corporations festoon their social media accounts with rainbowed logos, products, and statements of support for the LGBTQ+ community. But how many of them practice what they preach? To answer that question, we have to follow the money. Some companies have faced backlash as a result of inconsistencies between their public… Read more
Campaign Finance’s Dirty Dozen: Mega-Donors in U.S. Politics
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The concentration of spending by wealthy mega-donors in our elections is even greater than previously thought. A report by Issue One, a nonpartisan campaign finance reform group, released last month showed that for every $13 spent in U.S. elections, $1 was contributed by one of twelve mega-donors and their spouses. That’s over $3.4 billion spent… Read more
President Biden Urges Democracy Reform in Address to Congress
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President Biden made his first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, the eve of his 100th day in office. His remarks were wide-ranging, from addressing COVID to promoting landmark measures on job growth and equity. But he saved the end of his speech to discuss America’s heart and soul – our… Read more
Want to Improve Your Health? Stand Up for Democracy!
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If you’re a part of the Stampede, you already know that grassroots movements are good for the health of our democracy. But did you know they’re also good for your personal health? Numerous studies have shown that civic engagement and activism have positive effects on our physical and mental well-being. For example, people who feel… Read more